Creates laws about a labor standards board for agricultural workers. The Act would prohibit employers from firing such workers without cause. The Act takes effect when the Governor signs it.
Oregon’s agriculture industry is already grappling with the aftermath of the recent agricultural overtime law, HB 4002 (2022). Now, House Bill 2548 proposes a sweeping, one-size fits-all mandate that could force many family farms and ranches out of business.
Unions and trial attorneys introduced House Bill 2548, which creates a workforce standards board for agriculture. Special interests do not want to spend the time or money to unionize farm by farm, so they are proposing a “workforce standards board” to bargain the workforce all at once.
House Bill 2548 includes two provisions that effectively “unionize” farm work at the industry level:
- Creates an unelected governing body with the authority to set increased regulations for Oregon farms at least EVERY TWO YEARS.
- Eliminates at-will employment for agriculture and dictates how farm employers can terminate workers, creating significant challenges and litigation risk for agricultural employers.
Make no mistake: This legislation will result in the shutdown of multigenerational operations and loss of farm jobs. This is one of those moments where the VOLUME of responses matter.
SUBMIT TESTIMONY HERE before 3pm on 3/14
EMAIL COMMITTEE
Rep.DaciaGrayber@OregonLegislature.gov
Rep.LucettaElmer@OregonLegislature.gov
Rep.LeslyMunoz@OregonLegislature.gov
Rep.ShellyBoshartDavis@OregonLegislature.gov
Rep.LisaFragala@OregonLegislature.gov
Rep.TravisNelson@OregonLegislature.gov
Rep.AnnaScharf@OregonLegislature.gov