Vineyard Crews

Job description

Vineyard foremen, tractor drivers, planting, weeding, tying, leafing, moving wire, clean-up and any other cultural practices, as well as harvesting. Foremen direct and monitor the work of other farm workers and work under the direction of Supervisors

Fieldwork begins in January with pruning and proceeds to tying and leafing. If the company isn’t doing much capitol development (preparing new vineyards or replanting old vineyards), then there is usually a short work stoppage. Workers will resume work as the vines show more growth and need more canopy management and wires moved.

Workers will occasionally (less than 20 percent of time) perform vineyard weeding using shovels over 4 ft in length. The employer will provide training, gloves, and knee pads in prevention of work-related injuries at no cost to workers. The employer will also abide by rest period requirements in accordance with 8 Cal. Code Regulations 3456(c)(4).

Title of Supervisor for this position: Eliel Padilla

Pruning - January through February
• Prune vines in manner directed
• Drag vines out of row
• Stack in large piles
• Other requirements might be added as per the grape variety or tools being used

Physical Demands
• 60 or more hand contractions per minute using pruning shears
• Grasping vines and pulling them out of plant
• Dragging vines up to 1500 feet
• Lifting vines up to shoulder height to place in pile
• Walking and standing throughout the work shift
• Will work 6.5 hours a day; 5 days a week depending on the weather
• Must be able to work in cold, damp, and foggy conditions
• Walking on uneven ground

Tying and Leafing - February through April
• Ties growing vines to horizontal wires to guide vine growth.
• Pulls leaves to manage canopy for optimal grape cluster growth.

Physical Demands
• Constant small hand movements to tie vines to wires
• Holds arms out anywhere from knee height to above shoulder height
• Grasping with fingers and pulling leaves
• Walking and standing throughout the work shift
• Must be able to work in cold, damp, and foggy conditions
• Must be able to work in hot and humid conditions
• Walking on uneven ground

Moving Wires
• Lift the lowest wire on each side of the row of vines to the highest level to keep the growth vertical.

Physical Demands
• Uses large muscle groups to lift the wire
• Walking and standing throughout the work shift
• Must be able to work in cold, damp, and foggy conditions
• Must be able to work in hot and humid conditions
• Walking on uneven ground

Capitol Development
• Developing a new vineyard or replacing an old vineyard.
• The process is virtually identical.
• Heavy physical demands.
• Walking on uneven ground

Stake pounding
• Lifts stakes off trailer and sets them in proper location
• Lifts a 16 lb. weight above level of head and drops on stake to drive stake in ground.
• Weather usually warm to hot
• Walking on uneven ground

Stringing Wire
• Guiding wire from a spool on a trailer, pushing it into openings on stakes.
• Pulling at each end, adding sufficient tension.
• Weather usually warm to hot
• Walking on uneven ground

During April through August workers will perform the following activities:
• Suckering
• Shoot thinning
• Wire moving
• Leaf pulling
• Other cultural activities

Harvest-August through October
• Cutting grapes off vines and dropping into bins
• Using sideways motion of leg, push bin to next area in row
• When bin is full, pick up and carry to tractor pulling larger bin and dump
• Bins are limited up to 50 pounds
• If working at night, can be cold and damp
• If working in the day, will be hot
• Walking on uneven ground

This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Special Requirements

Specific Requirements for Vineyard Crews:

Physical:
Good vision
Good hearing
Reasonable noise tolerance
Reasonable dust tolerance
Ability to work nights
Ability to work different shifts
Ability to work swiftly
Must be able to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Ability to lift and carry 40 lbs.
Ability to work in all types of weather conditions, i.e., frost, fog, wind, heat, etc.
Repetitive stooping and bending
Good finger dexterity
Firm hand grip
Repetitive arm and shoulder movement, above and below head level
Repetitive use of wrist and hands
Repetitive pulling, pushing and reaching
Walking on uneven ground

Intellectual:
Ability to follow directions
Ability to follow all Company safety rules and policies
Ability to work cooperatively in a group or team setting