Farmworkers

Job description

Perform manual labor to plant, transplant, cultivate and harvest green onions and vegetables including leafy greens and herbs. Duties may include tilling soil, weeding, thinning, counting and checking crops. Prepare outdoor growing areas by setting up irrigation drip tape; laying, repairing and cleaning plastic; removing debris and weeds by hand and using gardening tools; and spacing plants at designated intervals. Locate, select, prepare, tag and load product onto wagons, racks and trucks for shipping. Use hand tools such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, shears, knives, cutters, weeders, hand leeks, thinning hooks and weeding hooks. Workers may be given an employee number in order to keep up with piece rates. May work within an assembly line to pack product. May repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches. Operate farm tractors and equipment. Harvest green onions by hand. Undercut green onions. Pull bunches. Gather onions into bunches of five to seven. Tie bunches together with rubber bands. Once harvested, place the bunches of green onions into various sized cartons in the field weighing up to 40 lbs. Lift plants from the seedbed and trim the roots and tops. Pack in shallow boxes for removal to the field where they will be planted. Work in groups to harvest crops with truck that is moving through the field along with workers while being careful not to damage harvested product. Stack weighed boxes onto pallets. Workers who have a valid driver's license and doctor's certificate may drive employer's vehicles to transport workers and may be offered additional hours.
Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a workers ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a workers Sabbath or federal holidays. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time.

Workers should expect occasional periods of little or no work because of weather, crop or other conditions beyond the employer's control. These periods can occur anytime throughout the season. Workers may be assigned a variety of duties in any given day and different tasks on different days.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a two day introductory period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker at the conclusion of the introductory period if the workers performance fails to satisfy the employers reasonable expectations, or is otherwise unacceptable. Employer may terminate a worker for lawful job-related reasons, including but not limited to situations in which the worker: (1) Is repeatedly absent or tardy; (2) malingers or otherwise refuses, without cause, to perform the work as directed; (3) commits act(s) of misconduct or repeatedly violates the Work Rules; and/or (4) fails, after completing the two day introductory period, to perform work in a competent and skillful manner, consistent with the employer's reasonable expectations. Non-U.S. workers may be displaced as a result of one or more U.S. workers becoming available for the job during the employers recruitment period. Job abandonment will be deemed to occur after five consecutive workdays of unexcused absences.

Special Requirements

Three months of farmwork experience is required. Walk, bend, reach, and twist repetitively. Lift, carry and load up to 40 lbs. Work outside in extremely hot, cold and/or wet weather for extensive periods of time. Must be 18 years or older.