Oregon’s agriculture industry is already grappling with the aftermath of the recent agricultural overtime law, which has led to worker dissatisfaction and reduced work hours. Now, HB 2548 proposes a sweeping, one-size-fits-all mandate that could force many family farms and ranches out of business.
HB 2548 disregards the significant protections already in place for farmworkers and threatens to fast-track a new, burdensome bureaucracy that could cripple Oregon’s agricultural industry. HB 2548 eliminates the relationship between employers and workers. It threatens the survival of family farms and ranches. And it accelerates job loss.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for producers! We need your help to protect Oregon family farms!
TAKE ACTION! Submit testimony into the record, register to testify in-person or virtually, AND contact your legislators today and make your voice heard. Tell them to VOTE NO on HB 2548.
ABOUT THE POLICY
HB 2548 includes two provisions:
- It creates an unelected governing body with the authority to set increased regulations for Oregon farms at least EVERY TWO YEARS:
- Set higher minimum wage;
- Set piece-rate wages;
- Establish requirements for rest breaks, work schedules and working hours;
- Provide training on worker rights by state-certified worker organizations; and
- Establish new workplace health and safety requirements for agriculture.
- Eliminates at-will employment for agriculture and dictates how farm employers can discipline or terminate workers. HB 2548 creates a private right of action against employers who make termination or disciplinary decisions that an employee or trial attorney disagrees with.
TALKING POINTS
This legislation would make it so expensive and risky to employ people, that many farms would have no choice but to reduce their footprint in Oregon, layoff employees, or sell to the highest bidder.
Our concerns about these bills include:
- The elimination of the relationship between employers and workers
- They threaten the survival of family farms and ranches and accelerates job loss
- They are duplicative of existing worker protections
The concept puts Oregon’s farm and ranch families in an untenable position.
- Shift in Burden of Proof: The proposal would require employers to prove the reasonableness of a termination, shifting the burden to them. Family farms and ranches would be vulnerable to costly litigation, as they would need to defend against employment claims, even in situations involving market conditions, poor yields, or weather events.
- Increased Litigation Costs: Family farms already face enormous financial strain. It costs around $75,000 just to settle a claim before it reaches court. Adding legal risks will only increase financial pressure, especially for small, family-run operations.
- Economic Hardships: Many Oregon farms are already struggling with poor yields and low commodity prices. Most will spend the next several years recovering from cash losses incurred in 2023 and 2024. This proposal adds another layer of uncertainty that could force family farms into financial ruin.
- Impediments to Staffing Flexibility: The proposals limit necessary flexibility for staffing and termination decisions, making it harder for employers to navigate the unpredictability of farming. These restrictions could lead to difficulty in hiring and maintaining a workforce.
- The bill threatens the livelihood of family farms and ranches by imposing unnecessary legal burdens. It increases costs and limits the flexibility needed to manage agricultural businesses. At a time when family farms are struggling to stay afloat, the Legislature should reject this punitive concept.
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