Here is the text of the letter Westover vineyars sent folks on their mailing list -
Westover Vineyards
Dancing COWs
Important Announcement
Westover to start process
of closing the tasting room and ending the C.O.W./P.L.O.W. clubs
We will start selling off inventory this weekend.
All wines will be at least 40% off and ports 50% off
until our inventories are liquidated.
Unless a miracle happens, we plan to go out of business December 24, 2014
Recently the labor department fined our winery over $100,000 for having volunteers serving our customers. There is a California State law 1720.4, which says, “volunteers are illegal in the state of California.” Almost all wineries use volunteers for one thing or another and many are not aware of this law. We are not the first winery to be hit. It appears to many that our state is declaring war on wineries and other small businesses.
Bill spoke with state assemblyman Wieckowski, a former attorney and representative of Fremont and surrounding area. He stated he was not aware of the law and he could not think why the labor department wouldn’t simply issue a cease and desist order to get things legal. He commented, “government should not be in the business to put small businesses s out of business.”
We are also working with Assembly member Quirk and hope to meet with him in October.
What can you do?
Come by the winery and purchase wine - help liquidate our inventories so we can pay the outrageous fines. Our winery only grossed $200,000 last year and the penalties equal about 10 years of net profits.
Contact your local state assembly members and senators via both their website and telephone and ask them to introduce legislation to change the law in California.
What we are proposing for legislation:
A. Provide the same labor exemption for small wineries and businesses which are extended to non-profits and government entities which allows for volunteers in the State of California.
B. Make it law that the State of California must first issue cease and desist orders for small business violations and allow businesses to get legal before any fines. Only after they have been warned can they be penalized for further violations.
C. Require the State of California Department of Labor be proactive and go out of their way to do outreach, inform all businesses of the state law.
How to contact local California State Senators and Assembly Members:
Assembly Member Bill Quirk
Fremont, Sunol, San Lorenzo, Hayward etc…
District Office
22320 Foothill Blvd, Suite 540
Hayward, CA 94541
Tel: (510) 583-8818
Fax: (510) 583-8800
Senator Ellen Corbett
San Leandro, Pleasanton, Fremont, Santa Clara. etc.
District Office
1057 MacArthur Blvd. Suite 206
San Leandro, CA 94577
Tel Phone: (510) 577-2310
Tel: (408) 286-0329
Fax: (510) 577-2308
Assembly Member Joan Buchanan
Alamo, Livermore, Contra Costa…
District Office
Second Monday of every month, 1pm - 4pm
Livermore City Hall
1052 S. Livermore Ave.
Livermore, CA
Tel: (925) 328-1515
Fax: (925) 328-1514
Senator Mark DeSaulnier - Livermore, Contra Costa…
District Offices
1350 Treat Blvd, Suite 240
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Tel: (925) 942-6082
420 W. 3rd Street
Antioch, CA 94509
Tel: (925) 754-1461
Assembly Member Bob Wieckowski
Fremont, Santa Clara, Pennisula, etc.
District Office
39510 Paseo Padre Parkway
Suite 280
Fremont, CA 94538
Tel: (510) 440-9030
Fax: (510) 440-9035
If your State Senator or Assembly Member is not listed above, please contact us or look them up on the internet.
We will be open for our liquidation sale for the rest of the year, Saturdays and Sundays 12pm - 5pm and by appointment. We will also be open on Labor Day. We will be selling glasses of wine at 50% off and maybe a limited tasting list.
We appreciate your support. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Sincerely,
Bill and Jill Smyth, Owners
Westover Winery & Palomares Winery
34329 Palomares Road
Castro Valley, CA 94552
(510) 537-3932
bill@westoverwinery.com
jill@westoverwinery.com