Protest Supports Farming Boycott

A demonstration was held here yesterday supporting the United Farm Workers (UFW) boycott of nine wine companies in California's Napa Valley. According to representatives of the demonstrators, more than 350 persons participated in a rally at the Diag followed by a march to the local office of U.S. Rep. Marvin Esch. A spokesman f r o m Esch's office s a i d , however, that about 60 persons were there to present a petition requesting Esch's support. The petition asked for Esch's support of the UFW in a fight against the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The demonstrators ' claim that all farm workers are excluded f rom the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 which guarantees the rights of workers to organize and bargain collectively. They also say that farm workers ' - not be restricted by a lawthat does not cover or protect them. Esch's district aide Richard Raison, met the demonstrators outside of the office and read a statement from the congressman, who is presently in Washington. The statement said, "For the past five years, I have worked with our Chícanos in the Lenawee and M o n r o e communities to assure that they are given equal rights with all of our citizens. "Regarding the decisión by the NLRB, it is improper for Congress to specifically interfere with NLRB decisions. This matter should go directly to the courts from the NLRB for determination and under our system of government the legislative branch does not have any direct jurisdiction in this area," stated Esch. The decisión referred to by Esch concerns the complaint recently filed by NLRB General Counsel Peter Nash in a California federal district I court against the UFW. His I complaint seeks an injunction I against the farm workers' I boycott. I Esch's statement also intcluded his strong support for Khe right of farm workers to organize. "I believe that this recent action highlights the need of what I have proposed for some time and that is ; the need for farm workers to be covered under separate regulations." An appointment was then made by Raison for several representatives of the demonstrators to speak with him today. The demonstrators then I departed and the office closed at the regular 6 p.m. hour. The march as sponsored by several organizations, including Chicanos at Michigan, I Trabajadores de la Raza, and I the Chicano Student AssociaI tion at Eastern Michigan I University in conjunction with I a state and national campaign I to protest the actions of the NLRB. .-