Agricultural Labor Relations Board reports multiple settlements, schedules Oxnard meeting

The Agricultural Labor Relations Board said at its March 4 meeting that regional offices resolved multiple unfair labor practice complaints, producing back pay for workers, reinstatement offers in some cases and civil penalties for employers.

"I have four settlements of complaints to report," Executive Officer Santiago told the board, noting the written report will be posted under the meetings tab on the agency website. The board unanimously approved the Feb. 18 meeting minutes by voice vote before recessing into a closed session; the minutes motion was moved and seconded and received three affirmative "I" responses.

General Counsel Julie Montgomery outlined the settlements in more detail and framed the results as remedies that return back pay and protections to workers. She described a Roma-lettuce harvester matter in Imperial County that settled for "a little over $1,000" in back pay, with standard notice remedies and required supervisor training. Montgomery said the agency found a complaint against a Fresno County grape operation to be substantiated; that settlement included $3,337 in back pay to two workers, standard notice remedies and $1,500 in civil penalties.

Montgomery also described a stone-fruit matter she said dated to October 2024; that settlement included $7,586 in back pay to three workers, reinstatement offers to two workers, standard notice remedies and $5,000 in civil penalties. Consolidated complaints involving a Kern County Asian-vegetable operation resolved with smaller individual back-pay awards (Montgomery cited $150 to one worker), notice remedies and $3,000 in civil penalties. Montgomery said several other pre-complaint settlements were reached, including cases she identified by farm management names and counties.

Montgomery emphasized outreach and education work alongside enforcement: regional staff have participated in clinics and joint events with the Labor Commissioner and Cal/OSHA in Salinas, Coachella, Farmersville and Ventura County, and have done Spanish-language radio interviews to share information with farmworkers.

The board received a brief update on three pending matters (First Trifanuki Farms, a Motion Missed Farms compliance clarification filed Feb. 12, and Red Blossom Farms, Inc., where the general counsel sought special permission to appeal an ALJ order denying a fully virtual hearing). The board opened the floor for public comment and, after receiving no hands or emailed requests, recessed to closed session. The board returned at 2:31 p.m., reiterated that it will meet in Oxnard on March 18 and adjourned.

The agency offered no fiscal aggregate at the meeting; amounts reported above were those Montgomery and Santiago read into the record. The written meeting materials and a posted report are to be published on the ALRB meetings page with further case citations and documentation.