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5/13/2021

Gov. Inslee Signs Bill Protecting Farms and Jobs

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Governor Inslee signed a bill that provides protection for farmers and farmworkers against three years retroactive pay and the class action lawsuits that were making these unfair demands. The nearly 40 lawsuits against farmers stemmed from a Supreme Court decision that said dairy farmworkers need to be paid overtime. When Senator King proposed Senate Bill 5172 it was to protect farmers against these lawsuits and their demands. Hundreds of farmworkers spoke up explaining how these demands would destroy their jobs. Labor activists fought against this and through their mouthpiece, Senator Saldana, they amended the bill to demand three years back pay for overtime for all farmworkers, plus 12% interest. If that had passed it would have destroyed most farms in the state and with that most of the 100,000 plus farmworker jobs.

Farmworkers and farmers spoke out against it, and the Senate and then House overwhelmingly rejected the effort by labor leaders to destroy farms and jobs. 

How do they call this a success? Because the bill included the provision to require overtime for all farmworkers phased in over several years. In the fight to force farmers to pay backpay for overtime, the labor activists and their legislative allies demonstrated they have no interest in what farmworkers want or what is in their best interests. If you care, watch the videos and see them speak for themselves. 

Now, the question will be whether our lawmakers will listen to labor leaders who show no regard for the best interests of workers, or the workers themselves. Workers have repeatedly explained how requiring overtime will cause them to lose pay, will make their lives more difficult and complicated, and force them to find second jobs. THEY DON'T WANT IT. If you question that, we encourage you to talk to them. 

Labor activists are fighting for political agendas harmful to farms and workers. Lawmakers in this bill showed when pressed they will ignore the demands of labor leaders when it harms those they say they are trying to help. We fully expect on the issue of overtime, they will do the same.

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5/12/2021

Labor Activists Once Again Claim Victory After Being Defeated

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Governor Inslee signed the farmworker protection bill, 5172, and received the congratulations from President Biden as this statement from the White House shows.

This bill does indeed protect farmworkers from the farm and job destroying demands of labor leaders. 

They are now claiming victory even though their effort to get three years back pay was resoundingly defeated! The UFW did the same when they walked away from a ten year old lawsuit with absolutely nothing: Victory!

​The bill did include a multi-year phase-in for overtime pay for farmworkers, and this is what prompted the president's praise. But, if you watch the videos below or take the time to talk to farmworkers you will see this may be a win (in the face a bigger defeat) for labor leaders, but it is a big loss for farmworkers. Will lawmakers listen to farmworkers and what helps them, or will they continue to pretend that labor leaders represent the interests of farmworkers when this bill showed so clearly they don't.

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3/4/2021

Judge's Fact Check

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Three Washington Supreme Court Justices demonstrate remarkable ignorance of key facts about farmworkers and reveal deeply offensive prejudice.

A November 5, 2020 a ruling by five of the nine justices overturned a 61 year old state law that told farmers how to pay their employees. That opened the door wide to class action lawyers. Lawyers from as far away as Los Angeles jumped at the opportunity the court provided and now over 30 lawsuits have been filed against farmers. More are coming all the time. The lawyers are demanding three years back pay to employees. It doesn’t matter to them that farmers were following the law and did nothing wrong nor that farmworkers were well and fairly paid.

Even worse, now Senator Saldaña is demanding that all farmers pay three years back pay--and with penalties. It is terribly unjust to change the law and then punish people for following the law because it was suddenly changed. If a speed limit changed, should you be fined for each time you violated the new limit in the past? This unfair demand would destroy farms and the thousands of jobs that depend on them.

Does Senator Saldaña know the harm her actions would cause? Yes, because she heard from over 550 farmworkers, farmers and supporters who told her clearly in a senate hearing that their farms and jobs would be lost. (Watch the video on the Home page on this site.)


This problem is all based on the judges’ wrong opinions. These ideas appear to be shared by Senator Saldaña and lawmakers who support her.

Three judges signed an opinion that shows how far their understanding of farmworkers is from reality. Their opinion demonstrates remarkable ignorance of the facts, but much worse, it shows a great disregard for the dignity and pride of these hard working and productive people.

Read the detailed FACT CHECK, then download it and share it with all who care about farmworkers, their jobs and the farms where they work.

Meet Washington's Farmworkers

This video will put you face to face with dozens of Washington's more than 100,000 farmworkers. As you will hear they are harmed, hurt and angered by the opinions of three Washington Supreme Court justices and the decision by the five judges. 

Their false statements about farmworkers, their pay, their safety, their dignity are unbelievable and inexcusable. Worse, Senator Rebecca Saldaña is basing decisions to destroy thousands of farms and tens of thousands of farm jobs on these false and disturbing opinions.

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  • HOME
  • OUR VOICES
  • ISSUES
    • Issues:Govt
    • Issues:Labor Activists >
      • Temas: Activistas Laborales
    • Issues:H-2A Facts
    • Issues:Overtime
    • Issues:Labor Shortage
  • FAQ
    • Preguntas y Respuestas (H-2A)
    • Guest Worker Program Q&A
    • How much to guest workers get paid?
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