Labor Bill Eliminates Farmworkers’ Right to Privacy in Union Elections
July 30, 2021
Listen to Ag Council’s Podcast to Learn More
Take a listen to Ag Council’s Capitol Farm Connection podcast covering AB 616, which is authored by Assemblyman Stone (Scott’s Valley). Ag Council and others oppose the bill because it undermines the existing secret ballot process for ag employees when determining union representation.
AB 616 equates signing a union interest card with joining a union. The measure allows union representatives to fill out the card, and the employee merely adds a signature. There is no actual election under the process proposed in AB 616. This is card check.
Emily and Tricia discuss the provisions in AB 616 and explain how you can weigh-in to help push back on this measure pending consideration in the State Senate.
Click HERE to listen to this informative podcast episode.
Cal/OSHA Standards Board Approves Amended Emergency Temporary Standard for COVID-19
Regulation is Inconsistent with other Federal & State Standards
Cal/OSHA’s Standards Board approved the revised Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for COVID-19 on June 3, 2021. Unfortunately, the ETS is not aligned with scientific guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and isinconsistent with the reopening of California on June 15 as announced by Governor Gavin Newsom.
In addition, the N-95 respirator requirements in the ETS are onerous, unnecessary and remove N-95 respirators from the stockpile where they are needed for healthcare and wildfire purposes.
The health, safety and wellness of workers is of utmost priority for Ag Council members. However, the ETS places untenable mandates on employers and workers that are out of step with federal and state guidance, which will create confusion. Please go to the first link below to read our coalition letter for further details.
Ag Council and others in business and agriculture requested that the ETS be repealed and instead urged the Standards Board to use Cal/OSHA guidelines, which are enforced through Injury and Illness Prevention Programs consistent with guidelines from the CDC and the California Department of Public Health. Unfortunately, that action was not taken.
A coalition letter from the ag community detailing our concerns and urging the board to repeal the ETS is available HERE.
To read the amended ETS approved by the Cal/OSHA Standards Board, click HERE.
Joint California Ag Statement on Workers’ Compensation Executive Order
In response to Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order that extends temporary workers’ compensation benefits for COVID-19, a coalition of California agricultural organizations issued the following statement:
“As a critical infrastructure industry, agricultural businesses have been asked to continue providing our communities with safe and nutritious food during the COVID-19 crisis, and their employees – deemed essential by every level of government – have been asked to continue their critically important work. Agricultural employers have responded by enacting extraordinary measures to protect their employees and the public, all while struggling with major supply chain disruptions.
“This executive order will add more financial weight at a very difficult time. Instead, if the goal is to restart California’s economy, then the added economic burden of medical claims related to COVID-19 should be borne by the government, not the essential industries providing a public good during a global pandemic.
“Amid tremendous uncertainty, the agricultural community is working to protect the health and safety of our essential workforce while we continue a vital mission to grow, harvest, pack, process and ship hundreds of nutritious California commodities for families in our state and across the country.”
Agricultural Council of California
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Fresh Fruit Association
Western Growers
***To read the text of the executive order, click HERE. For the governor’s written statement, click HERE.