Posts By: Jeff Janas
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Over 100 New Members Join Western Growers to Round out 2015
In case you haven’t noticed, your Association is growing. That’s right. Over 100 companies joined Western Growers during the last part of 2015 to take advantage of the Association’s many offerings. From government affairs representation to insurance services and from human resources to transportation, WG provides a multitude of products and services that will improve ...
90th Annual Meeting Is Now in the Books
The 90th Annual Meeting is now in the books! In case you weren’t able to catch everything that happened here’s a recap of the highlights: The Meeting’s most notable activity was the change in board leadership with Larry Cox, owner of Lawrence Cox Ranches in Brawley, California, becoming the new WG Board Chairman. Chairman Cox ...
Labor Commissioner — 10-Hour Work Day Equals 30 Hours Paid Sick Leave
The Labor Commissioner’s office recently issued an opinion letter regarding California’s new paid sick leave (PSL) law. The opinion letter addresses questions regarding how employers should provide PSL to employees who don’t work a traditional 8-hour/day schedule. The letter has special significance for agricultural employers and their employees who regularly work 10 or more hours in…
Updated Information for ALRB Public Hearings on Proposed Access Rules
The ALRB has updated the information it issued with regard to the public hearings it is holding on a proposed rule that would permit ALRB staff to visit agricultural worksites for the purpose of educating farmworkers and supervisors about their rights and responsibilities under Agricultural Labor Relations Act. Please note the following changes to the ...
California Supreme Court to Review Gerawan Decision
The California Supreme Court has granted review of the decision of the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Gerawan Farming, Inc. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Board. The case will consider whether the “Mandatory Mediation and Conciliation” (MMC) law is unconstitutional and, if not, may an employer oppose a certified union’s request for referral to the ...
Feds Sponsoring Clean Water Rule Webinar on August 27
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corp of Engineers will hold a webinar on Thursday, August 27 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. EDT (4:00 to 5:00 p.m. PDT) to provide more details about the final Clean Water Rule. This webinar will provide a review of the final rule, answer some commonly asked questions, and ...
CDFA Announces Vacancies on the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board
Interested in serving on CDFA’s Fertilizer Inspection Board? CDFA has announced three board vacancies they are looking to fill. Individuals interested in being considered for a board appointment should send a brief resume by August 31, 2015 to the California Department of Food and Agriculture – Feed, Fertilizer, and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, 1220 ...
Three Techniques to Lower Workers Compensation Costs
There are many steps an employer can take to reduce its workers compensation premium costs. For example, safety training educates workers avoid potential accidents and injuries. Worksite inspections help identify hazardous conditions that need to be corrected. There are other actions that a business can undertake that will also significantly decrease premium costs Companies focused on…
Court Denies Water Agencies’ Restraining Order Request
Yesterday, the United States Eastern District Court of California ruled against two water districts that requested a temporary restraining order to prevent 88,000 acre-feet of water from being flushed into the Pacific Ocean. The San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority (SLDMWA) and Westlands Water District (WWD) filed the request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) ...
Produce Industry Webinar Series on FSMA Final Regulations Begins October 2
With the publication of FDA’s final Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rule for Preventive Controls for Human Food and Animal Feed, the produce industry has come together to provide a FREE series of webinars to help industry members understand the final rules and implications for their businesses. FDA’s final FSMA regulations will have a significant ...
Fox Business Host, Stuart Varney, Heads Annual Meeting’s PAC Lunch
Despite world markets largely rebounding yesterday and today from record selloffs this week, both the U.S. and global economies sit precariously on the precipice while the investors wait to see how things shake out with China and Europe. Many see the global economy heading for troubled waters; however, there are optimists out there. One of ...
NASA Workshop Highlights Use of Satellite Data in Irrigation Management
This week, the NASA Applied Sciences Program and The World Bank co-sponsored an international workshop on Evapotranspiration Mapping for Water Security in Washington, D.C.. WGs’ Sonia Salas was invited to participate in the workshop and shared her perspectives on the current and potential use of ET in irrigation management. Evapotranspiration (ET) is the sum of evaporation ...
Organic Food Recalls Increase Due to Increased Sales
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released information that indicates that organic foods caused 7 percent of recall events in 2014, versus only 1 percent in 2012 and 2013. Part of the reason for the increase is that more organic food items are being sold. Organic food sales totaled $3 billion in 2014, up ...
Stay Connected, Stay Ahead and Renew Your WG Membership Today
Western Growers is your connection to success. From government affairs to health care and human resources needs to innovation, we exist to support you. 5 Reasons to Renew Your Membership Today To make sure your voice is heard. Our federal and state government relations team interacts with decision makers to address water, immigration, environment, crop ...
NLRB Adopts New Expansive Joint Employer Test
Last week, the National Labor Relations Board (Board) issued its decision in a long-awaited case on the issue of joint-employer status under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). In a 3-2 decision, the Board in Browning-Ferris announced an expansive new standard for determining which companies are “joint employers” of workers paid by labor contractor and ...
Over $22 M Recovered in “Containerboard” Antitrust Class Action Cases
Western Growers’ members that directly purchased linerboard, corrugated boxes and other corrugated containers and materials (“Containerboard Products”) from some of the world’s leading containerboard product manufacturers from 2004 through 2010, stand to share in millions of dollars in antitrust class action settlements collected to date. To participate in the settlement, you must submit…
Join Central Valley Farmers and Families at a Rally to “Take Back Our Water”
The following is an invitation issued by the California Water for Food and People Movement, My Job Depends on Ag, and Assemblyman Jim Patterson about a water rally occurring on October 2 in Mendota, California: Please join The California Water for Food and People Movement, My Job Depends on Ag, and Assemblyman Jim Patterson, at ...
Poll – Arizonans’ Approve of Ag’s Use of Water
The Arizona Agriculture Water Summit, an event that brought together over 60 representatives from the farming, ranching and agriculture industry, wrapped up today in Glendale, Arizona. Several staff members from Western Growers participated in the event, the purpose of which was threefold: 1) to provide a forum for conversation about agricultural water users in Arizona; ...
Appeals Court Ruling Emphasizes Prompt Sexual Harassment Investigations Reduce Liability
A Tennessee Court of Appeals’ ruling emphasizes employers can reduce their liability in sexual harassment lawsuits if they conduct a prompt and reasonable investigation into the allegations. In an opinion issued on July 30, 2015, the Court granted a summary judgment in favor of the defendant in a case where an employee brought suit against ...
Videos Promote Western Growers Transportation Program
Along with C.H. Robinson, our strategic partners in Western Growers Transportation Program, two recent videos have been produced that highlight the benefits from members’ use of the program. The videos, featuring The Wonderful Company and Dulcinea, function as testimonials to the reliability of the program and are being featured on both C.H. Robinson’s and WGs’ ...