The California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) reversed course and will not lease office space in Santa Maria from the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), after Western Growers and others raised conflict of interest and transparency concerns. 

As reported here, the ALRB had unanimously voted at its October 30, 2024 meeting to approve establishing a new office in Santa Maria through a sublease agreement with CAUSE, a worker center involved in anti-agricultural industry labor activities on the central coast of California.  

In response to concerns raised by Western Growers’ Vice President of State Government Affairs, Matthew Allen and others, the Board voted during its November 20th meeting to scuttle the leasing arrangement with CAUSE and seek alternative office space. 

CAUSE is the main organization advocating for a $26 minimum wage for farmworkers in Santa Barbara County.