Union Basics for Farm Employees in Spanish: Webinar is Wednesday, May 17

New York’s Agricultural Workforce Development Council is hosting a webinar for all farm employees. See notice in English and Spanish below. Employers are asked to set up the webinar in breakrooms and meeting areas to help employees gain access.


Upcoming Webinar: Union Basics for Farm Employees in Spanish

Wednesday, May 17, 12 PM – 1:30 PM

Union organizers are aggressively contacting farm employees all across New York. Many farm employees are unfamiliar with unions and not sure what to do. New York’s Ag Workforce Development Council will host Dr. Bob Ceglowski, consulting veterinarian and trusted advisor to dairy employees and managers, to discuss farm unions in a webinar delivered in Spanish. Topics will include: what unions are, the meaning and obligation of signing a union card, why farm employees may or may not want a union, and clarifying rumors and misinformation that are currently circulating in the farm community.

Attendees will receive the link to join the webinar after they have registered.

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qW9QZTHBTk6gkU7CBMpd-A


Una Sesión Virtual en Español: Sobre los Conceptos Básicos de los Sindicatos Para los Trabajadores Agrícolas

Miércoles, 17 de mayo, 12 PM – 1:30 PM

Los representantes sindicales están contactando agresivamente a los empleados agrícolas en toda Nueva York. Muchos de los trabajadores no están familiarizados con los sindicatos y no están seguros de qué hacer. El Consejo de Desarrollo de la Fuerza Laboral Agrícola de Nueva York dará una sesión virtual en español presentado por el Dr. Bob Ceglowski, un veterinario y consultor profesional que tiene la confianza de los empleados y supervisores de las lecherías. Los temas incluirán: qué son los sindicatos, el significado y la obligación de firmar una tarjeta de afiliación sindical, cuál es la razón por la cual los trabajadores querrán o no querrán tener la representación de un sindicato y va a haber la oportunidad de aclarar los rumores y la información errónea que está circulando ahora en la comunidad agrícola.

Todos los participantes recibirán el enlace para unirse a la sesión virtual después de que se hayan registrado.

Regístrese ahora para esta sesión virtual aquí:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qW9QZTHBTk6gkU7CBMpd-A

 

New York Labor Roadshow VI: Hold November 9, 10, and 22

New York’s Ag Workforce Development Council (AWDC) is organizing Labor Roadshow VI. The event heads back out on the road with the following stops (plus an online option): Labor Roadshow logo

  • November 9, 2022, Genesee Community College-Batavia Campus, One College Road, Batavia, NY 14020-9704. Room T119 Lecture Hall, Conable Technology Building.
  • November 10, 2022, Cayuga‐Onondaga BOCES, 1879 West Genesee Street Rd, Auburn, NY 13021. Conference Room 1, 2, 3.
    • Online Option. On November 10, 2022 only, the event will be broadcast via Zoom for remote audiences and recorded for paid registrants to view later.
  • November 22, 2022, CCE Saratoga Auditorium, 50 West High Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020

Labor continues to be the primary challenge for many farm businesses and this event tackles those challenges head on with these topics:

  • Attracting and retaining your farm workforce
  • Management strategies in a union eligible work environment
  • TN Visas: Introduction to the program and best practices for using
  • The H-2A Program: Accessing guest workers for all types of farms
  • Producer’s real world experiences with H-2A
  • Farm Safety: Real world tips for building a strong safety culture
  • Farm-provided employee housing management and development

Hold the dates, more details will be coming soon about the program.

First Farm Union Certified in New York

New York’s Public Employer Relations Board (PERB) certified the first farm employee union at their meeting on September 27, 2021. Local 338 of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union/United Food and Commercial Workers (RWDSU/UFCW) was certified as the union to represent twelve agricultural workers employed at Pindar Vineyards in Peconic, New York on Long Island. More details in this article from Morning Ag Clips. Certification means that the employer must recognize the union and engage in a negotiation process potentially leading to a labor contract between the workers who are in the union group known as a “bargaining unit” and the employer. New York’s FLFLPA law, which authorized farm unions, provides a rapid set of deadlines to get a contract in place. When a labor contract is in place it will govern relations between the employees in the bargaining unit and the employer.

Rodolfo M., Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW member and worker at Pindar Vineyards was quoted as saying: “My coworkers at Pindar and I joined Local 338 because we want dignity and respect. Our work should be valued and only by receiving equal treatment and things like sick days and paid time off to spend with our loved ones will it be. We know that being a union member will help us get the recognition we deserve for all of our efforts.”

Farm employee unions were authorized in New York by legislative action beginning January 1, 2020. Following are a few helpful resources to assist employers who may be affected by unions or collective bargaining:


By Richard Stup, Cornell University. Permission granted to repost, quote, and reprint with author attribution. The post First Farm Union Certified in New York appeared in The Ag Workforce Journal.

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NYFB Collective Bargaining Webinar

NY Farm Bureau is hosting an educational webinar on collective bargaining (unions) this Wednesday. Details below.


July 26, 2021

Register Now for NYFB Collective Bargaining Webinar

NYFB is hosting a members-only webinar on July 28 at 7 p.m. on collective bargaining and the regulations around the unionization of farmworkers. An attorney from the Syracuse-based law firm Bond, Schoeneck and King (BSK) will present on the topic that will include a review of the labor laws and the do’s and don’ts of communicating with employees about joining a union. Click here for the guidance from BSK.

NYFB is aware of some unionization activity in New York State, and this webinar would be helpful for members with employees. It is part of our new monthly series of educational webinars.

Click here to register in advance for this webinar.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.