Posts By: Jeff Janas
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Your Action Needed NOW to Defeat California Ag Overtime Bill during August Session
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 ...
Defeat the Ag Overtime Bill; Schedule Your District Office Meeting Today
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 ...
Federal Judge Dismisses Piece-rate “Carve-out” Lawsuit
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…
APHIS Rule Would Allow Imports of Lemons from Northwest Argentina
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 ...
Arizona Wage & Leave Initiative Appears Headed Toward November Ballot
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 ...
Canadian Postal Strike Could Delay Delivery of Mail for US Shippers
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 ...
Decision on Piece-rate Injunction Deferred by Superior Court
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 ...
Member Action Needed on California Ag Overtime Bill
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 ...
Last Chance to Meet with Legislators in District Offices on CA Ag Overtime Bill
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 ...
Injunction Denied in AB 1513 Safe Harbor Challenge
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 ...
Pesticide Violations Abroad Put Grower-Shippers on Notice
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…
Board Meeting Concludes Action-Packed Week in Orange County
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.…
DWR Extends Best Management Practices Survey Deadline to August 8
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has extended the availability of its Best Management Practices (BMP) Survey until August 8, 2016. The BMPs are intended to provide clarification, guidance and examples to help GSAs develop the essential elements of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). If you are actively involved in putting together Groundwater Sustainability Agency…
Ag Overtime Bill Heard in Senate Appropriations Committee Yesterday
Yesterday, the California Senate Committee on Appropriations held a hearing on the agriculture overtime bill, AB 1066 (Gonzalez – D), moving the bill to the Suspense File. Senate rules allow for a bill to be moved to the Suspense File after it is deemed that implementation of the legislation would have a significant fiscal impact ...
Criminal & Civil Liability Foodborne Illness Workshop to be Held at 91st Annual Meeting
We asked. You responded. And we heard you. In May, our Annual Meeting Survey asked members to help us identify possible workshop topics for this November’s meeting. Top on the list: Civil and Criminal Liability for Food Safety Issues. Food safety events around the country over the past decade, both in the fresh produce and ...
Nassif Makes Case for Immigration Reform during National Media Call
Yesterday, Western Growers’ President and CEO Tom Nassif was one of four business and community leaders featured on a national media call to launch the “Reason for Reform” campaign. The campaign kicked off a National Day of Action designed to urge members of Congress to enact a comprehensive immigration reform package when it convenes next ...
August 24th Giving Day Will Help Feed Communities in Need
The Western Growers Transportation Program (WGTP) celebrates its 10 year anniversary this year. To mark this special anniversary, on Wednesday, August 24th, Western Growers is partnering with C.H. Robinson, Feeding America and other WGTP-licensed associations to hold a one-day philanthropic event to give back to communities in need. Grower-shippers can contribute to this ‘Giving…
Ag Overtime Bill Eligible for Senate Floor Vote Next Week
Today, the California Senate Appropriations Committee removed the agriculture overtime bill, AB 1066 (Gonzalez – D), from the Suspense File making it eligible for a Senate floor vote as early as next week. With just a couple of weeks left in this year’s legislative session, Western Growers continues to lobby legislators on the consequences farmworkers ...
Headed to the Annual Meeting? Don’t Forget to Request an Absentee Ballot
Based on early room bookings, the 91st Annual Meeting at the Grand Hyatt in Kauai from November 6-9th will be well attended. Rooms are going fast and are almost sold out! If you are planning on attending and haven’t already booked, please register for the meeting and make your room reservation today! Absentee Voting While ...
WG Submits Comments to APHIS on Importation of Argentinian Lemons
On August 9, 2016, Western Growers submitted comments to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) opposing proposed regulatory changes allowing for the importation of lemons from northwest Argentina into the continental United States. Our comments addressed APHIS’ refusal to grant a 120-day comment period extension to allow for ...