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Re: Sign-on letter to Napa Valley Museum Curator
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lcoo-@hotmail.com
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Nov 25, 2001 15:04 PST
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Dear All:
As most of you know, I've been deeply involved in organizing community
support for an incredibly brave group of workers at the last unionized
winery in the Napa Valley. Two weeks ago, the local museum opened an
exhibit which celebrates their employer, Charles Krug Winery, in a manner
that directly violates the attempts to create a more authentic public
history. I am asking you as academics and public historians to endorse the
following letter and circulate it to others who might endorse it. Everyone
should list their academic affiliation under their name (for identification
purposes only). Thanks for your support. Endorsers should respond to
mailto:kruglockou-@hotmail.com
Curator and Board of Directors
Napa Valley Museum
Yountville, California
To Whom it May Concern:
It has come to our attention that you have just opened an exhibit on the
history of the Charles Krug Winery.
We understand that this exhibit entirely omits any mention of the employees
who actually produce the wine; and further, that these 43 men and women
employees were locked out of the winery on July 3, 200l, for refusing a
reduction in wages and benefits.
We understand that these employees belong to UFCW l86d, which has been
attempting to reach agreement on a contract before and during the lockout,
with no counter-offers or negotiation from management.
We are aware that this group of employees includes many workers who have
been with the company for twenty to thirty years, many women working in
non-traditional jobs, and a larger proportion of Latino workers than usually
are employed in cellar work.
This lockout has attracted both local and statewide attention with articles
in the Los Angeles Times, a number of benefits to help the workers survive,
and a national boycott campaign to raise awareness that Charles Krug Winery
is engaging in unfair labor practices, as well as a shocking and disturbing
lack of humanity and responsible management.
Although we are aware that this exhibit may have been commissioned and/or
funded by Charles Krug Winery, is it not your responsibility as historians
and curators of the past to include all aspects of the Charles Krug story?
Are you aware that both the St Helena Catholic Church and UC Davis School of
Viticulture cancelled benefits at Charles Krug winery rather than ask their
supporters to cross a union picket line? Have you considered that the
thousands of out of town visitors to your museum for this exhibit, which we
understand will be in place into 2002, are receiving a one-sided and
incomplete narrative on this important story?
This is not simply a "minor" labor dispute. This issue has resonance for
the future of organized labor in the vineyards and in the cellars, where
most of the low-wage workers in Napa toil. This issue deeply affects all
winery workers in the state, and all working people struggling for dignity
and respect in their workplaces.
We respectfully request an explanation for your decision to run a
historically incomplete representation. We further request that you either
dismantle the exhibit in deference to the issues we've raised, or commission
a labor historian (contact la-@sfsu.edu for assistance) to add panels
including those who actually grow and produce the wine. We plan to
publicize this exhibit widely through professional journals for museum
professionals and public historians, and we urge you to consider changing
this exhibit so that we may describe this exhibit in a way which does not
question the fairness and professional judgement of your staff.
Sincerely,
Lauren Coodley
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