Constraints on California Farm Worker Unionization

THE CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT of 1975 (ALRA) provides the basis for a positive impact on the unionization of the state’s farm workers. Immediately following the effective date of this legislation, union activity reached an impressive magnitude, causing many to expect that most of the state’s agricultural labor force would soon be unionized. It can be argued, however, that total unionization depends not only on significant outlays of time, money, and leadership, but also requires that certain economic and other constraints inherent to organizations be surmounted. After a brief discussion of the ALRA, this article’ focuses on possible and prospective constraints affecting the unionization of farm workers, and seeks to determine to what extent they are likely to be overcome. An analytical model is presented in which unions seeking to organize farm laborers are likened to commercial agencies supplying services, thus making unionization subject to an income/outlay calculus. Although we recognize that unionization is frequently considered more of a “social movement” than a commercial enterprise, we argue that in general, the income/outlay calculus is inevitable regardless of how lofty the ideals of the organizing agency or its leadership. And given the heterogeneities and elusiveness of the “market” for unionization of farm labor, this calculus is exceptionally binding. Our analysis leads us to conclude that the unionization of California’s farm laborers will reach a plateau at less than total saturation.