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 information that was included in the August 18th edition of Spotlight:
Location Change
Public hearings will be held in Fresno, Salinas and Santa Maria
- Oxnard hearing has been cancelled
- Salinas location has changed and will now be held at the Salinas Sports Complex (details below)
Time Change
Each hearing will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., recess from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and resume from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. until such time that all public testimony has been received. The public is invited to present your input at either session. It is not necessary to be present during the entire hearing.
Background
ALRB staff are not currently authorized to visit agricultural work sites for the purposes of conducting worker education sessions, unless ordered by the ALRB as a remedy to address unfair labor practice charges. At the initial meeting of the ALRB Ad Hoc Labor-Management Committee, members representing management, including Western Growers Vice President and General Counsel Jason Resnick, expressed serious concerns about the proposal including:
· How would employers be selected for worker education, and wouldn’t employees assume that the employer had been selected because it had engaged in misconduct or that ALRB staff were encouraging workers to unionize?
· Who will be conducting the education sessions? If conducted by staff from the ALRB general counsel’s office or regional offices, they have proven to be pro-union and not neutral as mandated by the Act.
· Why does this agency in particular require worksite access to educate workers about their rights and responsibilities when other agencies are not afforded similar access?
· With technology, social media and alternative effective channels of communication widely available to all employee populations today, why is it appropriate or desirable to impose training on employers and employees at the worksite?
HEARING LOCATIONS *(Please note: Each facility will accommodate 150-200 persons)
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 – Fresno, California
Doubletree by Hilton Fresno Convention Center
2233 Ventura Street, Salon C
Fresno, California 93721
(559) 268-1000
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Public input
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Recess
4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Public input
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 – Salinas, California
Salinas Sports Complex
1034 North Main St.
Salinas, California 93906
(831) 424-8039
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Public input
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Recess
4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Public input
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015 – Santa Maria, California
Santa Maria Inn
801 South Broadway
Santa Maria, California 93454
(805) 628-7777
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Public input
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Recess
4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Public input
Please contact Jason Resnick if you plan to attend one or more of the hearings.