Stanislaus creates Farm Worker Advisory Committee. Will members feel free to air concerns?
Stanislaus County supervisors have established a Farm Worker Advisory Committee after hearing from advocates for the hired hands.
The board voted 5-0 on Tuesday, Nov. 12, to seek applications for the 14-member body. It will have two workers from each of the five supervisorial districts. The other seats will go to a labor contractor, a community-based group involved with workers, a member of the county Agricultural Advisory Board, and another person from that industry.
Supporters said the county’s 24,000 or so farm laborers deal with low pay, strenuous tasks, extreme weather and other difficulties. Tuesday’s speakers included Noe Paramo, director of the Sustainable Rural Communities Project at the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation.
“All of these challenges require serious and dedicated support and resources for farm workers to ensure their families are part of a thriving Stanislaus County community,” he said.
Members will get $100 per meeting
The committee will be a one-year pilot project guided by county Agricultural Commissioner Linda Pinfold. Members will meet in public up to six times over that time and receive $100 per session. They will be on evenings or weekends so workers still can do their regular jobs. Translation will be provided so both English and Spanish speakers can follow the proceedings.
The application form had not been created as of Thursday, but interested people can inquire about the committee at 209-525-4730 or agcom50@stancounty.com.
Officials have discussed the idea over the past two years with the Latino Community Roundtable of Stanislaus County.
Local activist Vivian Lopez, the daughter of farm workers, endorsed the committee Tuesday but said it could pose a risk for members: “Would a farm worker representative feel confident to share problems being encountered in the fields and not be fearful of retaliation? Would they fear that they could lose their job?”
The committee will not enforce labor laws, which are handled by state and federal agencies. The panel does have a mandate to advise county supervisors on housing, health and other worker concerns. It will issue a report after a year and could become permanent if supervisors approve.
Should labor contractor be on panel?
Some speakers objected to having a farm labor contractor on the committee. Many farm owners hire these parties to recruit seasonal crews. They are licensed by the state and must follow rules on pay and working conditions. Some have been prosecuted for heat deaths and other violations.
Supervisor Terry Withrow said the committee will provide a chance to ease tensions between workers and contractors. “It’s good to have everyone at the table and it’s good for everyone to have the conversation,” he said.
Withrow has an accounting practice and grows almonds and wine grapes. Supervisor Vito Chiesa also produces the nuts, which have had low prices for the past few years. Chiesa said he uses a labor contractor at times but mostly deals directly with his workers.
“People earn their pay,” he said. “They earn their overtime. I’m struggling just as much to stay in business, but they’re struggling to pay their bills also.”
What else does ag commissioner do?
The ag commissioner’s office has other roles under state law. It watches out for pests, tallies damage from floods and other disasters, and certifies measuring devices in grocery stores and elsewhere.
The staff also issues an annual report detailing gross income to Stanislaus farmers. It was about $3.37 billion last year, eighth among the 3,078 counties in the nation that have farms, Pinfold reported on Aug. 27.
In past years, the presentation by the ag commissioner’s office to the Board of Supervisors has been uneventful. This year, the Latino group used the occasion to urge that future documents say more about farm workers.
The 2023 report did have a short article on the county’s latest Farm Worker of the Year. He is Salvador Anaya of Stewart & Jasper Orchards, an almond business near Newman. The award is sponsored by the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, the Modesto Rotary Club and AgSafe, a nonprofit involved in employee training.
Pinfold said similar farm worker committees are in Monterey County, another agricultural giant, and in San Mateo County, which grows flowers and other niche products.
This story was originally published November 13, 2024 at 2:00 PM.
