New York State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon has accepted a recommendation by the Farm Laborers Wage Board to lower the farmworker overtime threshold from 60 to 40 hours per week. The order follows years of debate and a 2-to-1 vote by the body in September. The change will be phased-in over a decade. Advocates say it’s overdue, but some elected officials from both parties and agricultural groups oppose the move, saying it will decimate small farms. Emma Kreyche is with the Worker Justice Center of New York, which advocated for the change.
What was your initial reaction to word that the Labor Commissioner had ordered this change to go into effect?
Well, my organization, of course, is very pleased with this decision. We have been working on this issue for many years, both through the legislative process and now for the past two and a half years through the wage board process, which of course, was delayed through the pandemic. So, we are very happy with this announcement. It is both the right thing to do by farmworkers and there are several measures that have been put in place that I think will help to ensure that there is no adverse impact on small farms.
What effect will it have on farmworkers?
Well, for farm workers who are routinely working between 40 and 60 and upwards hours per week, it will increase their take home pay will recognize the value of their labor and the sacrifices they make when they put in long hours at jobs that we consider essential and it will...
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