Proposed legislation could slash local farm worker income

My family farm has been growing tomatoes, almonds, corn, alfalfa, cotton and other crops for nearly 40 years in the Merced area. This diverse variety of crops not only helps buffer my business from the erratic nature of the weather and marketplace, but it is also a way for me to provide employees with steady, year-round work.

During peak season, our field workers can earn from $17 to $44 per hour based on their productivity. For crops that offer straight hourly wages, I pay considerably more than minimum wage; this includes pay to shop hands, tractor drivers and irrigators. For all these employees, peak-season earnings help balance out annual incomes.

Frankly, they can’t get enough hours. And the current system has worked well. My employees have been able to purchase homes, help put their children through college and support our local economy. This is especially gratifying as an employer who values employees as integral to the success of our farm. Without them, there is no farm. Period.

But this relationship and way of life is in jeopardy because the state Legislature is proposing to cut wages by changing overtime rules for farm and ranch employees, who are very concerned about seeing a drop in income. California is already one of the few states to mandate premium pay for farm employees after 10 hours of work in a day. Assembly Bill 1066 would require premium pay after eight hours every day, and after 40 hours every week.

Supporters claim these changes are a matter of “basic fairness;” in reality, they will only hurt the people they’re meant to help.

Right now, my employees know that during peak seasons they can count on at least 10 hours each day, six days a week. But if overtime kicks in after eight hours, I would likely transition operations to eight-hour shifts. My employees would lose about 30 percent of their annual income.

That’s real money these families depend upon. They’ll be forced to find other work to make up the difference and spend less time with their families.

California farmers pay higher-than-average costs for fuel, electricity and other supplies. We are also required to comply with a wide variety of rules and regulations intended to benefit the environment, food safety and employee health.

So, why don’t farmers raise the prices for their crops to offset those increased costs? Unfortunately, the market for what most farmers grow doesn’t work that way. Farmers generally must sell our crops and commodities for what the market offers. We compete with farmers in other states and even other nations, where wages are lower – sometimes much lower – and other costs are less, too.

One of the biggest changes is a new state law that will raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Farm employees on average earn more than minimum wage already, but the law will generally push all wages upward. To pile AB 1066 on top of this is to threaten my employees, their families and my family farm.

While I appreciate that our state is the nation’s leader in protecting workers, AB 1066 undermines that leadership because it erodes employee income. Legislators with no deep understanding of farming should not be allowed to destroy the positive relationships and respectful work environment on my farm.

This story was originally published August 15, 2016 at 3:39 PM with the headline "Proposed legislation could slash local farm worker income."