Farmworkers and Farmers at Odds Over Oregon's Overtime Law
Some farmworkers claim they are making less money, not more, due to Oregon's overtime law, while farmers argue they cannot afford to pay the overtime.
Maria de Lourdes Navarro and her son, David Montiel, are among those affected by the law. They work as grape harvesters in the Willamette Valley, with their day starting at 5 a.m. and ending in the early afternoon.
“When we get back [home], we wash our dirty gloves. And work clothes need to be set aside. We don’t have a washing machine here. So we have to go do laundry elsewhere,”
Navarro said, describing their daily routine. The length of their workday depends on the vineyard's needs, with their evenings spent cooking and preparing for the next day.
Farmers and growers are struggling to afford the overtime pay, while farmworkers like Navarro and her son face challenges in their daily lives.
Author's summary: Farmworkers and farmers disagree on Oregon's overtime law.