Page 17 - Jon Devaney News Today

Agricultural workers in Washington state would become eligible for overtime pay under a bill signed Tuesday by Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee.

Washington governor signs agriculture worker overtime bill NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS, Associated Press May 11, 2021 FacebookTwitterEmail SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Agricultural workers in Washington state would become eligible for overtime pay under a bill signed Tuesday by Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee, drawing praise from President Joe Biden. Senate Bill 5172 creates a phased-in path toward full overtime pay for agricultural workers by 2024. For 2022, they ensure overtime pay for any time worked over 5...

Is the Abandonment of Guest Worker COVID Protections a Taste of Things to Come? The Farm Workforce Modernization Act would likely lead to enormous increases in the number of workers brought to the U.S. by growers. David Bacon Dorian Lopez, an H-2A guest worker from Mexico, lives in barracks in central Washington built to house contract workers brought to the U.S. by growers under the H-2A visa program.  is co-publishing this article. Growers are just beginning to bring this year’s wave ...

Ag Workforce Vaccination Push Pt 3 Thursday Apr 8th, 2021 With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. A year into the pandemic, the ag workforce is now eligible for vaccinations, and employers are wasting little time preparing for the arrival of seasonal workers. Bottom line, Jon DeVaney, President of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, says we’re better prepared this year … DeVANEY … “We can verify people who may have been exposed, whether they have contra...

Ag Workforce Vaccination Push Pt 2 Wednesday Apr 7th, 2021 With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. If you hadn’t noticed, it’s spring time here in the Pacific Northwest, and with harvest time fast approaching, farm employers are working quickly to prepare for vaccinating the ag workforce. Washington State Tree Fruit Association President, Jon DeVaney says it’s taken a full year to get to this point, but the time has come … DeVANEY … “We joined a number of ot...

Ag Workforce Vaccination Push Pt 1 Tuesday Apr 6th, 2021 With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. A year into the pandemic, and as harvest season quickly approaches, the agriculture community seems confident it’s more adequately prepared to protect and maintain the health of farm workers. Jon DeVaney, President of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, believes vaccinations are now a priority for everyone … DeVANEY … “There has been a lot of concern around...

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Agricultural workers in Washington state would become eligible for overtime pay under a bill moving through the Legislature in Olympia. Somewhat surprisingly, the bill enjoys bipartisan support and even has the backing of farm employers who say it will bring a level of certainty to their labor costs. Farmworkers have been exempted from overtime pay since 1938, although some states such as California and New York have extended those protections in recent years. “This bi...

SPOKANE — Agricultural workers in Washington state would become eligible for overtime pay under a bill moving through the Legislature in Olympia.

Measure allowing overtime for farmworkers moves forward NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS, Associated Press March 12, 2021 FacebookTwitterEmail SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Agricultural workers in Washington state would become eligible for overtime pay under a bill moving through the Legislature in Olympia. Somewhat surprisingly, the bill enjoys bipartisan support and even has the backing of farm employers who say it will bring a level of certainty to their labor costs. Farmworkers have been exempted from overt...

Nearly 30 lawsuits have been filed against Washington dairies, claiming they owe three years of back overtime pay. The rest of the states ag industry worries they are next.