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ALRB: Nagatoshi Farm settles unfair labor practice charge, staff expands worker outreach
Summary
The California Agricultural Labor Relations Board reported a settlement in a Ventura County unfair labor practice case that included back wages and an offer of reinstatement; staff outlined expanded outreach including biweekly office hours in Kern County and Know-Your-Rights trainings.
The California Agricultural Labor Relations Board reported that Nagatoshi Farm settled an unfair labor practice charge, paying $3,254 in back wages and offering reinstatement to the charging party, the board’s general counsel said.
The settlement resolved a complaint that had been set for hearing April 1. General Counsel Julie Montgomery told the board the ALRB, Nagatoshi Farm and the charging party entered an informal bilateral settlement agreement filed on February 18 and that the agency will implement the usual reading-and-noticing remedies.
The settlement was described by Montgomery as a swift resolution: “Nagatoshi Farms paid the charging party all of the back wages of $3,254 gave the worker an offer of reinstatement, and then we're also going to effectuate all of the standard, reading and noticing remedies.” The executive secretary had earlier reported the settlement and requested that the hearing be taken off the calendar.
Montgomery also described expanded outreach by ALRB staff, noting an upcoming training on March 9 for workers at a monthly meeting of CBDIO in Lindsay, Tulare County, and the start of biweekly office hours in Lamont in Kern County at a nonprofit identified in the transcript as "Unidad Bogula Benito Juarez." The office hours will include an attorney available from 1 to 6 p.m. to meet with workers and will include group outreach.
The general counsel emphasized the importance of community partners in reaching workers who may conflate federal and state enforcement and who express fear about interacting with government. Montgomery said the ALRB is providing printed “red cards” describing basic rights and the right to remain silent, and that staff have been participating in Know-Your-Rights presentations across the Central Valley and other counties.
The board did not take a formal recorded vote during the portion of the meeting in which the settlement and outreach were reported; the settlement filing and the related removal of the hearing from the calendar were presented as staff actions and case developments.
Staff and board members praised outreach work by regional staff. The executive secretary and board members highlighted that office hours and pop-up events aim to reach workers where they are and at times they can attend.
The board will continue to monitor related cases and outreach outcomes and will meet next on March 19 in Sacramento and online.
