Late yesterday, June 30th, a superior court in Fresno issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) extending the deadline to sign up for the so-called “safe harbor” provisions of AB 1513 (Labor Code sec. 226.2(b)(3)) to July 18, 2016. The Order also states that if the court ultimately decides NOT to issue a preliminary injunction at ...
On August 1, the California Legislature will return from summer recess, and legislators will once again vote on legislation that would repeal the 10-hour/day and 60-hour/week overtime threshold for field workers. Despite being rejected by the Assembly in early June, the measure has been inserted into an unrelated bill that will be considered by state ...
July is almost half over. Have you scheduled a meeting with your assembly member and state senator to tell them why the California ag overtime bill is bad for your workers and for your operation? If you haven’t, now is the time to act. The California Legislature is slated to vote on AB 1066 in ...
Last week, a federal district judge in Sacramento dismissed a lawsuit brought by Gerawan Farming, Inc. and Fowler Packing Co. challenging “safe harbor” provisions that were part of piece-rate legislation (AB 1513) passed last year. Both companies were specifically excluded from taking advantage of provisions which provide an affirmative defense from claims for uncompensated or…
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has extended the comment period on its proposed rule that would amend U.S. import requirements to allow lemons from northwest Argentina. The comment deadline has been extended an additional 30 days until August 10, 2016. Western Growers had requested a minimum 120-day extension stating the additional time could ...
Unions in Arizona gathered 250,000 signatures to place a statewide minimum wage and paid sick leave initiative on the November ballot. The Fair Wages and Healthy Families Initiative would increase Arizona’s minimum wage to $10 in 2017 gradually increasing it to $12 by 2020. Key changes contained in the Initiative: Requires employers to provide 40 ...
An ongoing issue over pensions could mean Canada’s primary postal operator, Canada Post, could strike soon, hampering U.S. shippers who rely on the timely delivery of invoices or receipt of payments via mail. Shippers who have not already moved to alternative system such as electronic funds transfers should consider temporary or permanent alternatives that ensure ...
Yesterday, a preliminary injunction hearing was held by a Fresno County Superior Court on the “safe harbor” provisions of AB 1513, California’s piece-rate law. As previously reported in Spotlight, a temporary restraining order (TRO) was issued in the case of Nisei Farmers League v. California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, et al. The court deferred its ...
With state legislators preparing to return to work in Sacramento on August 1, Western Growers urges members to schedule meetings with their state senator and assembly member to register their strong opposition to AB 1066, the California ag overtime bill. This bill is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 1st. AB ...
With state legislators preparing to return to work in Sacramento on August 1, Western Growers urges members to schedule meetings with their state senator and assembly member to register their strong opposition to AB 1066, the California ag overtime bill. This bill is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 1st. AB ...
Following a hearing held last week, a Fresno Superior Court has denied a motion to issue a preliminary injunction against the ‘safe harbor’ provisions of the piece-rate legislation signed into law in 2015. The Nisei Farmers League filed a complaint alleging the statute is unconstitutionally vague, among other grounds. The court determined the plaintiff did ...
Due to recent Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) violations on several export shipments, Western Growers reminds members that while the U.S. may have established tolerances on a particular pesticide/fungicide, other countries’ threshold limits may be lower or non-established. Such violations will not only place the individual shipper on enhanced surveillance, but in many cases the importing…
Earlier this afternoon, Chairman Larry Cox of Lawrence Cox Ranches [Brawley, Calif.] concluded the quarterly Western Growers Board of Directors meeting in Newport Beach, Calif. Following committee meetings on Wednesday, the full board convened this morning to address major policy items impacting the competitiveness and profitability of the Arizona, California and Colorado fresh produce industry.…
It may not seem obvious, but the military and agriculture have a common bond. The connection is based in the rural nature that is part of each. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there were approximately 22 million veterans in the United States in 2014 and more than five million of them lived ...
This is a reminder that Western Growers’ offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance our Independence Day. We wish you and your families and happy and safe holiday! Happy Independence Day!
Western Growers would like to thank and recognize our sponsors who have already stepped up to support this year’s Annual Meeting at the Grand Hyatt Kauai from November 6-9, 2016. This meeting will be well-attended and presents a perfect opportunity to promote your company’s products and services to the leaders of the fresh fruit and ...
As part of this week’s Board of Directors’ meeting in Newport Beach, Western Growers (WG) will officially unveil its new Irvine-based headquarters in a ribbon-cutting ceremony this evening. WG Chairman Larry Cox of Lawrence Cox Ranches in Brawley, Calif. will perform the ribbon-cutting honors. Directors in town for the meeting, as well as their spouses, ...