Washington Supreme Court Looks At Piece-Rate Pay

Thursday, the Washington state Supreme Court heard arguments challenging the piece-rate pay system.  The plaintiffs in the case worked for the Dovex Fruit Company as piece-rate employees picking fruit.  The two argue that the piece rate weekly average violates Washington Minimum Wage Act, since they were not pair directly for non-picking activities, such as carrying ladders, waiting for equipment and traveling between orchards.  Madi Clark with the Washington Policy Center said moving away from the piece-rate system would be detrimental to the ag industry.

"It hurts the farmer but it also hurts the worker because when you make piece-rate pay, you have the potential to make $18, $20, I’ve even heard $25 an hour.  So, that potential is huge for the income for the workers and then for the farmers they have the benefit of increased productivity.”

Clark told the Washington Ag Network removing the piece-rate pay system could make it more challenging for farmers to find workers in an already tight ag economy.  Many agriculture experts are hopeful the state Supreme Court will buck their trend of recent, and side with farmers on the piece-rate issue.

Recent Figures indicate piece-rate systems increase productivity up to 50% and take home wages can increase 30%.

Click Here to read the legal brief.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com