Guardian Vital

The Vinguard and Lideres Campesinas are collaborating on a wine label to draw attention to vineyard workers/stewards. Those who pick grapes are often in the shadows, are subjected to hazardous working conditions, and do not have job security or opportunities for advancement in the wine industry. The Guardian, Vital label will be adopted by wineries for special cuvees. The participating wineries must guarantee that workers whose labor goes into making their wines have safe workspaces, are paid fairly, and are treated with dignity, respect, and potential.

Drawing by Oscar Lopez Guerrero

Guardian Vital Requirements

1. The vineyard/parcel is farmed without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers.

2. Vineyard workers are not asked to work in evacuation zones.

3. Vineyard workers are paid hazard pay of 1.5 times their hourly wage when the air quality index is 150 or higher or in other hazardous conditions.

4. Vineyard workers are given N95 respirators when the air quality index is 150 or higher.

5. Vineyard workers are always provided with clean drinking water and bathrooms.

6. Vineyard workers are provided with safety trainings or safety instruction manuals for workers in their preferred language.

7. Vineyard workers are provided with access to emergency response resources.

8. Vineyard workers have adequate lighting and safety measures during nighttime harvesting.

9. Vineyard workers are paid a living wage according to the MIT Living Wage Calculator. You can use calculation for one adult, no children. Alternatively, you can set aside 15 - 20% of the sales price of your Guardian Vital wine sold for a fund that goes to the vineyard workers. If you sell it to a distributor, you can use the FOB price. If you sell directly to consumers, use that price. The goal should be that the workers' wages, combined with their share of the percentage of sales will meet or approach the area's living wage.

10. Full-time vineyard workers are given paid sick days.

11. Vineyard workers are provided with access to healthcare resources.

12. You, the grower or the vineyard management company, pay for medical costs to workers injured on the job.

13. Vineyard workers are provided with legally required rest and meal breaks.

14. Vineyard workers are permitted to organize and unionize.

15. You, the grower or the vineyard manager, provide opportunities for advancement, such as hiring from within, training opportunities for workers, or different forms of education.