Labor Update Sept 2002
Governor Davis signed the two farm labor bargaining bills Agriculture had urged him not to sign, SB1156 (Burton, D-San Francisco) and AB 2596 (Wesson, D-Culver City). This is most unfortunate for both farmers and farm workers as it allows imposition of binding contracts on growers if a settlement cannot be reached between the grower and the union. This almost certainly will create runaway labor costs in California at a time that many in this State are having difficulty competing against producers in other State and other Countries. This in turn is bad for farm workers as it can mean fewer jobs. These bills also provide a dangerous precedent that almost certainly will be introduced in other industries by other unions.
The Governor vetoed AB 325 (Reyes, D-Fresno), that would have made it unlawful for an employer to designate a place where a worker must cash their paycheck. This measure required posting to all employees with a $5,000 fine for failure to do so. The problem with this bill was the size of the fine. It makes you wonder why legislators are so intent on punishing employers. Who do they think provides jobs for employees for these employees?
A recent article in the Orange County Register pointed out the problems many agricultural employers are having finding laborers. The article featured strawberry producers but applies to us as well. The effort to promote Federal legislation in Washington is proceeding but slowly as any effort being proposed has political implications. Possibly after the elections something can be done. It is also hoped that the upcoming meeting between President Bush and Mexico’s President Vicente Fox will include agricultural guest worker.
It appears that there will not be an increase in the California minimum wage in 2003. The Industrial Welfare Commission convened a wage board to discuss and recommend an appropriate wage for future years but employer and employee representatives could not reach an agreement. The employer representatives recommended no increase while the employee representatives at first recommended moving the minimum wage to $12 per hour. That is not a typographical error.
