A dispute has arisen between Rancho Laguna Farms and its employees about the level of wages. Driscoll’s released the following statement about the issue:
“Thank you for expressing concern for the farmworker community, and the issues that have developed with one of our independent growers, Rancho Laguna Farms in Santa Maria, California. We have been in contact with all parties involved including the grower, the farmworkers, the advocacy group CAUSE and local government representation. We are listening to everyone’s concerns directly, so that we can better understand all circumstances involved. In addition, the owner of Rancho Laguna Farms has provided a public statement that is available below.
Driscoll’s is aware of the complaint that was filed by CAUSE against Rancho Laguna Farms with the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB). The California Agricultural Labor Relations Board was created in 1975 to ensure peace in the fields of California and seeks to achieve these ends by providing orderly processes for protecting the respective rights of farm employees and labor organizations. The landmark law set clear procedures to follow. We fully support this process and await the board’s resolution of this matter. Driscoll’s Labor Standards, which apply to all of our independent growers, require the right to collective action be respected without interference or reprisal.
In the Rancho Laguna Farms dispute, the employer and the employees disagree about the level of wages. To our knowledge, the employed farmworkers are not claiming wages violate California law. As well, a complaint alleging wage violations has not been filed with the state or court. While this is a matter for Rancho Laguna Farms and its employees to resolve, we encourage the parties to resolve the labor dispute. Our involvement at this point would interfere with the operations of the separate and independent business of Rancho Laguna Farms.
Driscoll’s is fully committed to protecting the health and safety of those who work across our broader enterprise, including the harvesters employed by our independent growers. In addition to the wage dispute, the employees of Rancho Laguna and their representatives have requested a review of their working conditions that speak to their health and safety. As the public statement from Rancho Laguna Farms indicated, Driscoll’s has swiftly following-up on these concerns that have been raised and will monitor their progress and ensure all commitments are fully implemented.
As a family-owned company with historical roots in California, Driscoll’s values the relationship we have with the communities that grow our berries. Driscoll’s has a long-standing history in the Santa Maria community and we know this is a challenging time for farmers and farmworkers during COVID-19. We are doing our best to live our values and we consider everyone to be a part of One Family, all rooted in the communities where we work and grow; this is core to who we are.”
Click here to read the public statement from Rancho Laguna Farms.
For more information:
Driscoll’s
Tel: +1 (800) 871-3333
Email: press@driscolls.com
https://www.driscolls.com
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