Drivers /field Workers (wine Grapes)

Job description

Field Worker (Wine Grapes):

Duties vary depending on the growing season:

Work in grape vineyards during the spring (January through March) will include hoeing (long handled hoe) and pruning and tying, frost maintenance and repair.

Work in grape vineyards (approximately mid-March through May) will include weed removal, planting, training, shoot positioning and vine suckering.

Work in grape vineyards during the summer season (approximately June through July) will include planting, training, shoot positioning , vine suckering. leaf removal. Working on trellis, raking, vineyard clean up and post pounding. Harvest activities include using sharp picking knives, standing, and kneeling on the ground to pick fruit. Employer abides by the California rules applicable to hand weeding.

Non-harvest related activities (approximately August through mid-September) will include early season crop thinning, wire moving and shoot positioning, root picking, irrigation and irrigation maintenance, canopy management, shoveling, trellis maintenance and replacement.

Work in grape vineyards during harvest season (approximately mid-September through the end) will include picking wine grapes and activities directly related to winegrape picking including such as stacking and washing of lugs and bins, leaf removal and sorting fruit.

Non-harvest related activities continue during the harvest season but are not directly related to wine grape picking and include fence repair, trellis repair, trellis maintenance and repair, drainage, field gutters, plant new vineyard including digging, raking, clean up and post pounding.

Tractor Driver:
Tractor drivers will drive and control tractors in fields. Tractors have a capacity of under 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). Commercial drivers' license not required to drive tractors. Tractor Driver: Tractor drivers will drive and control tractors and forklifts in fields, at loading areas and crush pad.

Additional Vineyard Work duties throughout the season
Chopping, discing, cultivation, fungicide application with backpack and/or tractor sprayer and herbicide application with hand sprayer.

CalVans Driver/ Enterprise/ Mendoza Vehicle:
1. Driver may drive over the road in passenger vans.
2. Driver will drive designated vans to transport harvest crew workers to and from housing and worksite locations. Driving job duty is not a different job and the drivers perform harvesting job duties when not driving.
3. Driver will be responsible for filling van with fuel and keeping vehicle clean.
4. Driver will be required to complete and process periodic driving reports as required by state laws.
5. Driver will be required to follow all traffic laws and if applicable, vanpool rules.
6. In order to drive, drivers must possess a valid authorized driver’s license and must be able to pass DOT (Department of Transportation) recognized medical exam and fulfill all other DOT requirements.
7. Van Driver performs the medical exam at no cost to the employee or employer. The employer will be responsible for the cost of the registration as an FLCE driver (if any).
8. Direct and monitor the work of seasonal farmworkers during pre-harvest and harvesting.

Drivers are compensated for these activities.
All employees engaged in driving activities (H-2A as well as corresponding domestic workers), will be given the opportunity to obtain a driver’s license or commercial driver’s license (DL or CDL) on a voluntary basis. The DL/CDL is not a pre-hire job requirement. No job applicant will be denied an employment opportunity due to a lack of a DL/CDL or FLCE Certificate at the time of application and/or hiring. Further, no worker (H-2A or corresponding domestic worker) will be terminated for failure to obtain a DL/CDL or FLCE certificate.

Special Requirements

Minimum Job Qualifications:
Driver Requirements:
1) Type of drivers license required: Class C California license (or equivalent from another state)
2) The employer will pay all associated cost in order for the driver to obtain his drivers license.
3 months of experience working with wine grapes is required. Specific requirements include lifting up to 50 pounds frequently and being able to use hand tools, including cutting knives. Must be able to work under conditions where skin and clothing become heavily soiled with mud, water, grease, etc. Must be able to work outdoors in inclement weather conditions, including rain, cold, high winds, etc. Work involves frequent bending and working in bent or stooped positions. Must be able to walk and stand up extensively. No smoking, alcohol, firearms in the field or residential housing.