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ALRB reports worker-rights settlements, statewide outreach and four bills that change agency duties
Summary
General counsel reported two Region 2 settlements — with Growers Choice and Moochi Farms — including notice requirements and an $18,900 penalty; legislative staff listed four passed bills affecting ALRB jurisdiction, translation duties, notice templates, and teleconferencing rules.
General counsel Julie Montgomery summarized recent settlements and outreach work for the Agricultural Labor Relations Board and outlined four new laws she said will affect the agency.
Montgomery reported that Region 2 settled a retaliation/unfair labor practice matter involving Growers Choice in San Joaquin County. The settlement includes standard remedies such as required notices to workers and supervisor training, and affirms the employer will respect workers' rights, Montgomery said.
Montgomery also reported a separate Region 2 settlement involving Moochi Farms (transcript variants: 'Mucci'/'Moochyy') arising from allegations of captive-audience meetings on or about June 19, 2025, and a subsequent allegation the company announced its closure around June 23 in retaliation for union support. Under the settlement, Montgomery said Moochi will mail a notice to each agricultural worker who worked at the Tehachapi facility during the relevant period, pay penalties to the ALRB (Montgomery reported the amount to be $18,900), and allow ALRB agents to read and post the notice should the facility reopen in California within one year of the settlement.
Montgomery also described a broad set of outreach activities since November: staff tabling and presentations at farmworker clinics, trainings for legal assistance and county workers, radio interviews, and participation in the Employment Development Department's farmworker breakfast in Calexico where Labor Secretary Stuart Knox attended.
Legislative staff Mikaela summarized four bills approved this legislative cycle that staff say affect the ALRB. Mikaela read the bills aloud and described their expected effects on the agency:
- AB 288 (McKenna): Severs the ALRB's obligation to follow NLRB precedent under the Labor Code and clarifies that the ALRB has exclusive jurisdiction to administer the Agricultural Labor Relations Act, as described in the bill reading.
- AB 8845 (Arangula): Requires continued collaboration across departments under the Labor & Workforce Development Agency to make reasonable efforts to translate farmworker complaints and to collect related data about complaint transmission.
- SB 294 (Reyes), the "workplace know your rights" measure: Requires the Labor Commissioner's Office to develop a template notice and employee/employer videos; the ALRB's role was described as primarily consultative and the agency will assign a liaison.
- SB 470 (Laird): Extends COVID-era teleconferencing provisions under the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act for public boards, allowing the ALRB to continue teleconferencing as specified and delaying expiration until 2030.
No members of the public spoke during the public comment period. The board recessed to closed session and returned at 11:25 a.m. The chair closed the meeting after announcing the next scheduled session on Jan. 7, 2026.
