Washington high court accepts UFW brief on paid rest breaks
We won a victory when the Supreme Court of Washington state accepted the United Farm Workers’ brief in a case over whether farm workers in that state should have paid rest breaks when they labor on piece rate (so many cents per unit produced). The grower opposing paid rest breaks formally objected to the high court considering the UFW’s arguments in Ana Demetrio, et al v. Sakuma Brothers Farms, Inc. The union is not directly involved with the case nor do we represent workers at Sakuma Brothers. However, the UFW does represent other farm workers under union contract across Oregon and Washington.
In our brief, we asked the Supreme Court to follow the lead of California, the only state in the nation that requires employers to pay farm workers for rest periods on days when they work on a piece rate basis.
We explained that rest periods are especially important since piece rate systems are commonly used during hot summer harvest seasons when farm workers are at risk of heat illness and death. Growers that do not guarantee paid rest periods expose farm workers to heightened risks for heat illness because those low wage workers forego taking rest breaks to earn more money.
All other workers in Washington state are guaranteed paid rest periods while they work. Washington growers are arguing that they should be entitled to a special exemption, despite the fact that farm workers die at their workplace at rates significantly higher than other workers.
Arturo S. Rodriguez, President
United Farm Workers of America