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Ag Information Network

By Bob Larson

November 6, 2024

From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. From ag overtime to a push for unions for ag workers, the challenges in ag labor seem to be piling on.

Enrique Gastelum, CEO of the Worker and Farmer Labor Association, says as the cost of doing business for ag employers continues to grow, unionizing workers would unnecessarily create more barriers …

GASTELUM … “I believe unions have their place in certain businesses and industries. Workers can already, like here in Washington, can get together and can, you know, discuss issues as a group, as an individual with their employer and talk about things.”

On the west coast, Gastelum asks, what’s the point? …

GASTELUM … “As we look at the states of like Washington, Oregon and California, our states have already extended and provided a ton of workers rights and benefits and privileges.”

And the list, Gastelum says is pretty long …

GASTELUM … “Paid sick leave, paid family medical leave. we’ve got the new long-term care law that’s on the books in Washington. You have ag overtime, you’ve got various other different protections. You know, we have an AEWR, Adverse Effect Wage Rate, under H-2A, that’s $3 over state minimum wage. And so, what is a worker going to be bargaining for when there’s already all these protections in place?”

Listen tomorrow for more on why unionizing ag workers is not a good idea.