Labor
Farm Labor Contractor Surrenders License
A farm labor contractor that employed a pregnant teenager who died of heat stroke while pruning grapes has given up its license to operate for three years. MercuryNews.com more »
Immigrant Farmworkers get California Legislative Support
Pro-union California farmworkers received a boost from the California State Senate this week. Mexidata.info more »
California Water Crisis Threatens its Fruit and Vegetables
Ron Jacobsma, general manager of the Friant Water Authority, called it a "double whammy" on California's water supply: A record drought that started last year and shows no sign of stopping, and a court-ordered reduction... more »
Farmers Fear Labor Shortage Threatens Harvest
With the harvest season beginning, farmers around the state say crackdowns on immigrants are causing a widespread labor shortage that threatens this year's harvest of some fruits and vegetables. pressconnects.com more »
State fines labor contractor for safety violations
The Department of Industrial Relations' Division of Occupational Safety and Health has assessed fines of $77,900 against a Galt-based farm labor contractor found to be in violation of California's heat illness prevention regulations. Lodi News-Sentinel more »
Illegal Immigrating Impacting Agriculture
Essentially, right now, we have a choice in this country and our choice is either we import our labor or we import our food," said Julie Suarez, New York Farm Bureau Public Policy Director. Capital... more »
Labor Situation Stabilized, Say Farmers
Two years ago, in a time of deep anti-immigration sentiment, then-Gov. Bill Owens signed a series of bills touted to make Colorado the toughest state for undocumented foreigners. The Pueblo Chieftain more »
Farm Labor Housing Hard to Come By
As with many cliches, this one carries a lot of truth. Ledger Dispatch more »
State Probes 12 Possible Worker Heat Deaths
Labor officials said Friday they were investigating whether a rash of early season heat waves had caused the deaths of a record number of California workers by summer's peak. MercuryNews.com more »
Groups File Suit over Pesticide Use
A number of farm labor, public health and environmental groups said Monday they filed a lawsuit challenging the Environmental Protection Agency over the continued use of the pesticide diazinon. The Monterey County Herald more »