NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: November 16, 2022

Contact: Jessica Arciniega, Regional Director, (805) 973-5062, (831) 241-8493 Jessica.arciniega@alrb.ca.gov

Central Coast Agriculture, Inc. Pays $60,178 and Offers Rehire to Cannabis Workers to Settle an Unfair Labor Practice Complaint that It Fired Workers for Reporting Pesticide Exposure and Requesting Wage Increases

BULLETON, Calif. – Central Coast Agriculture, Inc. located in Bulleton, California agreed to rehire and pay $60,178.44 in lost wages to nine agricultural workers to resolve a Complaint filed by the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (“ALRB”). The Complaint alleged that Central Coast Agriculture, Inc. fired these agricultural workers in retaliation for requesting a wage increase and for reporting a pesticide exposure. The workers alleged that a couple of weeks after they spoke with their employer about a wage increase, their supervisor ordered them to enter a recently fumigated work area with a sign prohibiting entry. The workers entered the area as instructed, and some became ill. Workers thereafter reported the incident to the Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner. After being fired, the workers filed an unfair labor practice charge with the ALRB claiming retaliation.

In a settlement agreement with the ALRB finalized last week, Central Coast Agriculture, Inc. agreed to offer the workers reinstatement, pay them for their lost wages, and to uphold the rights of farm workers to join together to speak up and seek improvements to their working conditions. ALRB agents will go to Central Coast Agriculture, Inc.’s cannabis operation to read a Notice to all agricultural workers about their rights under the Agricultural Labor Relations Act. This Notice will be posted at the facility for 90 days and mailed to former employees.

The ALRB enforces the ALRA, which states that “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 of 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 maintains field offices in Oxnard, Santa Rosa, Salinas, Visalia, and Indio. Those wishing to access ALRB services may call a statewide toll-free phone number, (800) 449-3699 or the Oxnard office number, (805) 973-5062. More information is available at www.alrb.ca.gov.