Pruner

Job description

Pruning dormant pear and peach trees, tree training, and sucker removal, peach blossom thinning, and tree planting, in established orchards. Follow training instructions based on established company procedures specific to the variety being pruned and tree form desired. Dormant work also includes tree training or limb positioning to establish productive tree structure. This involves using string, hammer, and nail, or branch spreaders to manipulate branches into desired positions. This position also includes the removal of branches that sprout from the trunk of the tree referred to as sucker growth. All wood cut during pruning and sucker removal must be positioned in the row middle for future mechanical mulching. This position may perform peach flower removal at the onset of bloom in peaches if timing overlaps with dormant pear pruning. Blossom thinning is the hand removal of unwanted flowers. Limited dormant tree planting is performed each year during the contract period and may offer alternate work if pruning is not available due to weather. Described Safety rules must be followed, and all provided PPE must be worn including safety glasses, and gloves provided. Communicate with work groups, co-workers, and supervisors in a professional manner; provide general maintenance, and care of company buildings, grounds, and equipment. Must be able to perform physical work common to dormant Pear and Peach tree pruning, tree training, and sucker removal in established orchards. Capable of proficient and safe use of a 10-ft orchard ladder weighing up to 50 lbs. Must be able to achieve the posted production standard after 3 full weeks of employment. Use common pruning tools that include hand lopper, hand shears, or hand saws. An option to prune from a mobile platform eliminating ladder work may be available in limited situations. Work in varied weather conditions that include cold damp days common to the Pacific Northwest during the months of January-March. Workers will be paid overtime for hours worked over 40 per week.

Employer agrees to offer the worker employment for a total number of work hours equal to at least three-fourths of the workdays of the total period beginning with the first workday after the arrival of the worker at the place of employment or the advertised contractual first date of need, whichever is later, and ending on the expiration date specified in the work contract or in its extensions, if any. The employer may offer the worker more than the specified hours of work on a single workday. For purposes of meeting the three-fourths guarantee, the worker will not be required to work for more than the number of hours specified in the job order for a workday, or on the worker's Sabbath or Federal holidays. If, during the total work contract period, the employer affords the U.S. or H-2A worker less employment than that required under this guarantee, the employer will pay such worker the amount the worker would have earned had the worker, in fact, worked for the guaranteed number of days. An employer will not be considered to have met the work guarantee if the employer has merely offered work on three-fourths of the workdays if each workday did not consist of a full number of hours of work time as specified in the job order.

Special Requirements

See A.8a and Addendum C.