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UFW union introduces new websites, wine

By JUAN ESPARZA LOERA / Vida En El Valle

FRESNO -- The United Farm Workers unveiled a multilingual website on Labor Day that offers visitors information in Spanish, English and Thai.

Earlier this year, the union released Black Eagle Wines.

The websites can be accessed at: www.ufw.org/s (Spanish), www.ufw.org (English), and www.ufw.org/thai (Thai).

The Spanish-language site, which replaces the pages in Spanish offered on the union's main site, contains photo galleries of the UFW's recent constitutional convention in Fresno, updates on the union's organizing drives, and, the latest union news in Spanish.

The site also allows farmworkers to submit their information to see if they qualify for the Juan de la Cruz Pension Plan.

The worker voices site allows visitors to tell their stories in their own words, or to participate in the union's organizing, legislative and political campaigns.

Visitors can also locate background information about the union and its history.

The wine -- available at www.blackeaglewines.com -- is produced and bottled by a Napa Valley winery with workers under UFW contract. The wine was served at a VIP reception at the Democratic National Convention last week.

"Black Eagle Wines is a reminder that we have something to celebrate. While the vast majority of farmworkers continue to work in an abusive system, there are thousands of farm workers whose lives the UFW has changed. The farmworkers who produce Black Eagle Wines have the dignity of a union contract, health insurance and a pension," said UFW president Arturo Rodríguez.

Assemblymember Juan Arámbula, D-Fresno, teamed with Rodríguez to host a wine tasting at Arte Américas on Aug. 21.

"This wine embodies the mission of the UFW and is made with dignity, love, and honesty," said Arámbula. "It embodies the spirit of who César Chávez was."

The available wines are 2007 Estate Sauvignon Blanc; 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon; and, 2000 Merlot.

Assemblymember Joe Coto, D-San José, has given the wine his blessing.

"It is our hope that at every political dinner, every union banquet, and every Latino community gathering, that people serve Black Eagle Wines," said Coto, who is also chair of the California Latino Caucus.

The wine bottle features a photograph of Chávez during a march, with Arte Américas executive director Grace Solís near him.

Proceeds will go to the union's organizing work.

Send e-mail to: jesparza@vidaenelvalle.com