YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. |
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Legislation seeking to eliminate an agricultural employee’s right to cast an independent vote in a secret ballot unionization election will be taken up in August when the legislature returns from its summer break. This is a rerun of failed legislation in 2022 and prior years.
AB 2183 (Stone D-Scotts Valley), which is opposed by CAWG, would limit an employee’s ability to independently and privately vote to accept or reject unionization in the workplace. This bill would essentially eliminate a secret ballot election and replace it with the submission of representation cards signed by more than 50% of the employees. This would ultimately leave employees susceptible to coercion and manipulation by labor unions.
Unlike the current process, which guarantees that employees ultimately express their true sentiments about unionization in the tightly controlled setting of a supervised secret ballot election, this new procedure would provide no safeguards to ensure the representation cards really indicate the employees’ free, uncoerced and current choice. To the contrary, AB 2183 would expressly allow the union to complete the card for the employee. This would give the union full control of the process, which should on its face be neutral.
Similar past legislation was vetoed by Governors Schwarzenegger and Brown, and last year, Governor Newsom vetoed AB 616 (Stone, D-Scotts Valley), which was nearly identical to AB 2183. In his veto, Newsom stated, “This bill contains various inconsistencies and procedure issues related to the collection and review of ballot cards. Significant changes to California’s well-defined agricultural labor laws must be carefully crafted to ensure that both agricultural workers’ intent to be represented and the right to collectively bargain is protected, and the state can faithfully enforce those fundamental rights.”
UFW, the sponsor of AB 616 and AB 2183, was very unhappy with Newsom’s veto of AB 616 and staged a protest in Napa Valley. At this point it seems Stone and UFW are intent on sending AB 2183 to the governor’s desk and daring a fourth veto.
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AB 5 Disrupting California Trucking Industry |
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This week, management at the Port of Oakland closed operations due to trucker protests over the June 30 Supreme Court decision to not hear the California Trucking Association's (CTA) petition challenging whether AB 5 should apply to trucking.
More than 70 trade associations (including CAWG) representing wide-ranging supply chain interests have sent a letter to Governor Newsom asking him to issue an executive order to temporarily pause enforcement of the state’s AB 5 contractor law.
Join CAWG's webinar, Hauling: The Road Ahead on Monday, July 25, at 9:00 AM, to learn more about how AB 5 may impact the harvest season ahead.
Resources
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Farm Labor Survey Addressing Labor and COVID-19 Impacts |
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The National Council of Agricultural Employers is conducting a survey with research partners at the University of California, Davis and Arizona State University to gain knowledge and understanding in the following areas:
- How farmers are adapting to reduced labor availability
- How the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted farming operations (including costs)
- The extent to which labor-saving technologies are helping mitigate problems stemming from labor shortages.
The results from the survey will be used for a statistical study and will be used to inform agricultural employers, community leaders, policy makers, and other interested parties about how these issues are impacting the agricultural sector in the United States.
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Drought Emergency Extended - Delta Plan Workshop |
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The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) this week approved action on two important water issues:
The Board unanimously approved extending, with minor revisions, the drought emergency curtailment regulation through mid-2023. This includes the methodology to determine water unavailability, which will be the subject of SWRCB update workshop in August. Nearly 10,000 of the approximately 16,700 water right holders in the Sacramento and San Joaquin watersheds are currently curtailed from diversions, according to staff.
This fall board staff will begin work on a permanent drought management regulatory regime. If the drought extends to 2023, there will be another round of emergency regulations.
Bay Delta Plan Scoping Meeting - August 10 | 10am - 5pm
Board staff will present the development outline for the landmark and long-anticipated regulation. Participants can provide oral comments regarding the scope and information to be included in the draft environmental impact report (EIR). Participants wishing to comment may attend the meeting in person at the Joe Serna Jr. CalEPA Headquarters Building or may comment remotely via Zoom. Instructions to participate remotely are included in the NOP.
Written comments should be submitted by email to:
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Pierce's Disease-Resistant Grape Demonstration |
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WHEN: Friday, July 29 | 10:00am - Noon
WHERE: Ojai Vineyard, Oak View
Join UCCE Ventura in looking at the Ojai Vineyard in Oak View that has used grape varieties that were bred for Pierce's Disease resistance. A tasting of wines made from grapes of these varieties is also included.
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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: CAWG’s 2023 Grower and Leader of the Year |
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Nominations are now open for the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Awards of Excellence Program.
The Awards Program presents two awards annually: Grower of the Year and Leader of the Year. These awards are meant to spotlight exceptional people or companies who have benefitted the broader community of winegrape growers through exemplary leadership and outstanding commitment to the well-being of the winegrowing industry, California communities and the environment.
Nominations are due by September 30, 2022.
The CAWG Awards of Excellence reception will be held on Jan. 24, on opening night of the 2023 Unified Wine and Grape Symposium held in Sacramento.
NOMINATION FORMS:
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For more information and to view past award recipients, please view the CAWG website. For questions, contact Natalie Collins, Director of Member Relations.
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WEBINAR: Hauling: The Road Ahead |
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WHEN: Monday, July 25th at 9:00am
As harvest fast approaches, growers must take a number of factors into account. One of those factors is the hauling of their fruit from the vineyard to the winery.
Join CAWG and G3 Enterprises for a webinar on Monday, July 25th at 9:00am to discuss trucking factors this year and into the future. Learn how labor, fuel prices, and regulations may impact this year’s hauling and ways that integrated logistics planning and scheduling can help you be prepared.
Presenting will be Yvonne Sams, Sr. Director of California Logistics. Yvonne will share her insights and expertise on the future of agricultural trucking in California.
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WEBINAR: Utilizing the Crush Report to Make Business Decisions
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WHEN: Tuesday, July 26 @ 10:00am
The Grape Crush Report has a lot of useful data, but have you considered the ways in which this information can influence decisions made in your operation?
Join CAWG on Tuesday, July 26th at 10:00am to learn how to best utilize the information from the Crush Report and California Grape Acreage report to craft grape contract tactics and guide investment strategies. The Grape Data Tool was developed by Vinyeyard Financial Associates and distills every California Grape Crush Report and Grape Acreage Report since 1991 into a single Excel workbook with an easy interface.
With this data, growers can look at price variations, or price growth rates, for specific varieties in their districts and use this data to negotiate contract prices that may include annual rate increases over the contract term.
This webinar will walk through the Grape Data Tool and share insights into how to utilize the data (and different Crush Report tables) to make forecast and influence decision making.
Presenting will be Gabriel Froymovich, Vineyard Financial Associates.
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WHEN: Thursday, August 4 at 10:00am
Join the California Association of Winegrape Growers for their 48th Annual Business Meeting taking place virtually on Thursday, August 4th from 10:00am to 11:00am.
During this one-hour meeting, you will hear from CAWG’s leadership and advocacy teams on efforts at the state and federal levels. Aside from CAWG priorities, Andrew Cline from the California Department of Food and Agriculture will discuss initiatives to safeguard Spotted Lanternfly from the California winegrape industry.
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CAWG PAC Event in Los Olivos |
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WHEN: Thursday, August 25 at 4:00pm
Join the CAWG PAC and our hosts Greg Gonzalez, Mike Testa, and Gregg Hibbits for a fundraiser benefiting CAWG PAC at Crossroads Estate in Los Olivos on Thursday, August 25. The event will begin at 4:00 PM and will be an evening full of networking, music, great food, excellent wine, and farm equipment demos from local vendors.
Questions:
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CAWG 2022 Membership Directory Now Available |
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The 2022 CAWG Membership Directory is NOW AVAILABLE in a full-color, digital format.
The directory will not be mailed, but can be downloaded and printed if you prefer to view it as a hard copy.
· QUICK LINKS ·
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Advertiser Index and Tabs: Quickly locate a specific advertisement! Scroll over the ad to link to their website, email, or phone number.
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Grower Members: View all CAWG growers in alpha order.
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Associate Members: View all CAWG associate members in alpha order. We encourage members to use those companies who support the winegrape industry!
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All things CAWG: View CAWG history, Board of Directors, staff & more!
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Member Index: View grower members by Crush District and associate members by supply/service category.
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