It is critical for upstate legislators, for whom the farm economy is a foundation of communities we represent, to keep close watch on a Wage Board now holding the future of so many farmers and rural economies in its hands. This is the worst possible time to risk mandating and regulating more farms out of business, and that is exactly what’s at stake here.
Elmira, N.Y., January 12—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) continues to join legislative colleagues, regional and statewide farmers, and farm industry advocates from throughout New York to voice strong opposition to any move by the state’s “Farm Laborers Wage Board” to roll back the current 60-hour-per-week overtime threshold for farm workers.
The Farm Wage Board is in the process of holding three additional virtual public hearings this month to hear testimony from farmers and other agricultural employers, farm workers, legislators, academic experts, and others. The first hearing was held on January 4. The final two hearings will be held next week on Tuesday, January 18 and Thursday, January 20.
O’Mara is scheduled to testify before the Wage Board on January 20. Anyone interested in testifying can register at: https://dol.ny.gov/farm-laborers-wage-board-hearings. According to the Board, speakers are being scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, and will be allotted three minutes of testimony. Written testimony may also be submitted by email to: [email protected].
O’Mara, who strongly opposed the...
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