News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: February 7, 2025

Contact: Jessica Arciniega, Regional Director, (831) 241-8493 Jessica.arciniega@alrb.ca.gov

WATSONVILLE, Calif. – Bonnie Plants, LLC, located in Watsonville, California, has agreed to pay $114,834.40 in lost wages and other payments to eight farmworkers to resolve six unfair labor practice charges filed with the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB).

The charges allege that Bonnie Plants, LLC laid off workers in retaliation for reporting concerns about alcohol consumption on the job, mistreatment by forepersons, and a company policy regarding clocking in for work hours.

Bonnie Plants, LLC entered a settlement agreement with the ALRB in late December, in which it agreed to pay eight workers $114,834.40 in lost wages and payments instead of offering them their jobs back. The company also agreed to respect the rights of farmworkers to join together and speak up to seek improvements in working conditions without facing retaliation.

As agreed, ALRB agents will visit Bonnie Plants, LLC’s worksite to read a Notice to agricultural workers about their rights under the Agricultural Labor Relations Act (ALRA). This Notice will be posted at the worksite for ninety days and mailed to current and former employees.

The ALRB enforces the ALRA, which states:
“It is the policy of the State of California to encourage and protect the right of agricultural employees to full freedom of association, self-organization, and designation of representatives of their own choosing, to negotiate the terms and conditions of their employment, and to be free from the interference, restraint, or coercion of employers of labor, or their agents, in the designation of such representatives or in self-organization or in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection.”

The ALRB is headquartered in Sacramento and has field offices in Santa Rosa, Salinas, Oxnard, Visalia, and Indio.

Those wishing to access ALRB services may call any ALRB office, including the Salinas Office at (831) 769-8031, or the statewide toll-free number at (800) 449-3699.

More information is available at www.alrb.ca.gov.