March 31, 2021 SCRP WA State Legislative Update
We have kept you current on the Ag Overtime battle, but the fight is not over. We need your help today! Last week the chair of the House Labor Committee rejected all amendments to the bill as it was voted out of committee.
This is significant, because the “deal” given to gain bipartisan support as the bill passed the Senate was that this was a “work in progress.” All agreed we needed to fix the bill to ensure it protects farmers and farmworkers.
As a result, WA Farm Bureau has changed its position to CON on 5172
Now is the time to stand strong. The current language is unacceptable to Washington agriculture and does NOT provide the following protections that agriculture needs:
Protection for farmers from lawsuits for back wages. Farmers would only be protected from retroactive claims coming from court action, but NOT from state agency generated actions related to wage and hour claims. This is a huge loophole and liability for farmers.
Seasonal flexibility. Allowing farmworkers (except for dairy workers) to earn money for up to 50 hours per week for twelve weeks of the year before overtime provisions kick in. This would be a benefit to both workers and farmers. Farmworkers are only paid overtime in a handful of states, but most of these states provide some sort of harvest/seasonal flexibility for the industry.
Here is what we need you to do – sign in “CON” on SB 5172 for today's hearing in the House Appropriations Committee at 1:30 pm
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