Last week, Western Growers sent an Action Alert to members asking them to contact their respective assembly members as soon as possible and urge a NO vote on Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) farmworker overtime bill (AB 2757). A follow-up Action Alert will be sent out next week to those who have not acted reminding them to take action on this important matter.
Gonzalez’s bill, which is strongly supported by labor unions, repeals the longstanding 10-hour daily and weekly overtime requirements currently in place. The legislation would incrementally decrease the existing overtime threshold over a four-year period until it reaches 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week.
Advancement of the legislation comes on the heels of Governor Jerry Brown signing the new $15 per hour California minimum wage into law this week, and threatens farmers with a double whammy on labor costs. The added cost burden for farmers creates a harsh economic reality for farmworkers who will likely see their earnings impacted as a result of farmers reducing work hours to stave off ever-increasing production costs. Western Growers and several other ag organizations who opposed the legislation sent a letter in late March to assembly members laying out reasons why the bill should be rejected.
For more information, contact Matthew Allen at (916) 446-1435.