Unions and trial attorneys introduced HB 2548, which creates a workforce standards board for agriculture. These special interests do not want to spend the time or money to unionize farm-by-farm, so they are proposing a “workforce standards board” to bargain our workforce at the sector level!

HB 2548 includes two provisions that effectively “unionize” farm work at the industry level:

1. Creates an unelected governing body with the authority to set increased regulations for Oregon farms at least EVERY TWO YEARS:
   1. Set higher minimum wage (est. over $20);
   2. Set piece-rate wages;
   3. Establish requirements for rest breaks, work schedules and working hours;
   4. Provide uniform training on worker rights by state-certified worker organizations (i.e. unions and trial attorneys); and
   5. Establish new workplace health and safety requirements in addition to those already adopted by OR-OSHA.
2. Eliminates at-will employment for agriculture and dictates how farm employers can discipline or terminate workers. HB 2548 creates a private right of action against employers who make termination or disciplinary decisions that an employee or trial attorney disagrees with.

Now, a -2 amendment has been introduced. This amendment is even worse! It stacks the Workforce Standards Board with OR-OSHA bureaucrats and plaintiffs' attorney groups to ensure that worker groups have the ability to establish their wish-list of regulations and wages. It allows workers to claim emotional damages for failure to comply with all the new requirements AND only allows prevailing plaintiffs to collect attorney fees. In short, there is no disincentive for frivolous litigation; this bill all but guarantees that outcome.

This legislation would make it so expensive and risky to employ people, that many farms would have no choice but to reduce their footprint in Oregon, layoff employees, or sell to the highest bidder. 

What a nightmare!