Governor Brown Signing Ag Overtime Bill

Assemblyman Gallagher Responds to Governor Brown Signing Ag Overtime Bill
Says AB 1066 will result in lost wages for farm workers


SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) today issued the following statement on the signing of AB 1066, which changes wage and hour laws for farm workers:
“It’s the same old story of a government that is out of touch with the reality of living, working, and doing business in California. I wish that the voices of farmers and farm workers would have truly been heard in this discussion. Instead, the ruling party placated to one union group and the chronic and ignorant misconceptions of a few legislators who have no understanding of the industry and its people. If you understand agriculture, you know that this new law will result in lost wages for farm workers. There are no real winners with AB 1066.”






CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU EXPRESSES DEEP DISAPPOINTMENT WITH SIGNING OF AGRICULTURAL OVERTIME LEGISLATION


Paul Wenger, president of the California Farm Bureau Federation, said that the agricultural community is very dismayed that Gov. Jerry Brown has signed the Agricultural Overtime bill, Assembly Bill 1066 (Lorena Gonzalez – D, San Diego).


President Wenger issued the following statement:


“We are extremely disappointed that this legislation was signed into law, as it will be harmful to farm employees, farmers, consumers and the environment. Those who work on California farms will see reduced paychecks and have their lives disrupted as these new worker overtime rules come into play. California consumers will have fewer opportunities to buy California-grown farm products that are produced under the most stringent food safety, employment and environmental rules in the world.


“Legislation such as AB 1066 only works if California consumers buy California farm products and opt not to buy cheaper food products from sources outside of California that do not meet the same labor and environmental stewardship standards that our farm products do.


“It is unfortunate that those who will suffer the economic consequences of this ill-conceived statute are not the ones that wrote it and passed it into law.”


The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 53,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of more than 6.2 million Farm Bureau members.