Farmworkers and Farmers Disagree on Oregon's Overtime Law
Some farmworkers claim they are making less money, not more, due to Oregon's overtime law, while farmers argue they cannot afford to pay the overtime.
Maria de Lourdes Navarro and her adult son, David Montiel, work as farmworkers during grape harvest season in the Willamette Valley. Their typical day starts at 5 a.m. and ends in the early afternoon, with hours depending on the vineyard's needs.
“When we get back [home], we wash our dirty gloves. And work clothes need to be set aside. We don’t have a washing machine here. So we have to go do laundry elsewhere,”
said Navarro, describing her daily routine.
Navarro's day usually ends by 8 p.m., with her preparing for the next day's work.
Author's summary: Farmworkers and farmers disagree on overtime law.