minimum wage

Minimum wage will increase to $16.28 per hour effective January 1, 2024

How does Washington State compare to the rest of the nation when it comes to the minimum wage?

Once Governor Kate Brown signs House Bill 4002, the overtime exemption for the farming community in Oregon will phase out over the next five years. While many in the farming community say this legislation will be detrimental to the Ag industry across the state, advocates say farm workers deserve better and overtime pay is a step in the right direction ...

Legislation cosponsored by Representative Shelly Boshart Davis, during the 2019 Legislative Session would enable Oregon farmers to better hire younger workers by allowing a training wage during the first three months that would be exempt from the state minimum wage...

Legislation cosponsored by Representative Shelly Boshart Davis, during the 2019 Legislative Session would enable Oregon farmers to better hire younger workers by allowing a training wage during the first three months that would be exempt from the state minimum wage...

A Washington, D.C. judge has set a January 28th hearing on arguments about a preliminary injunction to halt increases in the minimum wage for H2A workers.  That increase took effect one week ago.   The National Council for Agricultural Employers and a Nevada farm filed the lawsuit on January 7th against the Department of Labor.  Accordi...

Labor was one of the biggest problems for producers in the Northwest this year, and Mike Gempler with the Washington Growers League says they anticipate that will be the case next year as well.   In Washington, the ag industry will face challenges of a higher minimum wage and along with that comes the new paid sick leave law according to Gempler.  ...

A Kittitas County Superior Court Judge heard three arguments over I-1433, the Washington State Initiative that raised the minimum wage and mandated paid sick leave for workers.   The lawsuit was brought forward by three Kittitas County farmers, including Brad Haberman who are arguing that the Initiative violates the State’s Constitution.   “...

The first arguments will be heard in Kittitas County Superior Court on a case that could overturn the recently passed minimum wage law.   Farmers Brad Haberman, Mark Charlton and Bill Wirth filed the challenge stating the I-1433 violates the state’s constitution by containing multiple subjects, a minimum wage increase and sick time leave standards.   T...

With the new year just a couple of weeks away, farmers, ranchers and other owner/operators are preparing for many changes.   Washington Growers League President Mike Gempler said, “There’s more pesticide safety regulations, higher wages, and then I think there’s going to be a lot of uncertainty in the area of immigration policy from the federal level with the new incoming Trump administration.”