Vineyard Worker

Job description

Victoria's Vineyard Management is a farm labor contractor engaged in the farming of wine grapes in the Napa/Sonoma/Mendocino area of California. Workers will perform duties associated with the harvesting of wine grapes, which will include harvesting wine grapes with pruning shears or grape harvest knife. Place grapes into
bins, tubs and other similar containers and empty grapes into gondolas that are situated on slow moving tractors in the vineyards. Employer will provide tools and equipment necessary to perform all required tasks at no cost to the worker. Work is performed outdoors and can involve exposure to extreme temperatures, bright sunlight, cloudy, windy or rainy conditions, mud and dust, low light or darkness and other natural elements. The work may entail exposure to plant pollens, insects, snakes, rodents, noxious plants and/or plant materials that have been treated with insect and/or disease control spray. Workers must walk in variable soil conditions. Workers should come prepared with appropriate clothing and footwear for the working conditions described. Workers will not perform weeding activities by hand in a stopped, kneeling or squatting position.

Qualifying workers may operate specialized vineyard tractor machinery after undergoing several hours of safety training and passing a hands-on tractor driving exam. Qualifying workers must demonstrate willingness, basic knowledge of driving a vineyard tractor and the ability to operate agricultural machinery in a safe manner. Tractor drivers will be responsible for movement of tractors in, around and between vineyard rows, fields, ranches, trees, row markers with or without loaded attachments, which may include loaded or empty trailers, rollers, mowers, pull blast sprayer and discs. Hitch and unhitching attachments. Sit for long periods of time. Mount and dismount equipment. Operate breaks, gears, pedals, reading gauges and steering controls while driving. Refuel and maintain tractor operations to ensure optimum performance. Conduct daily maintenance checks prior to operating the tractor.

Qualifying candidates may also drive vehicles to assist company with transportation of H-2A workers. Driving will involve picking up workers to and from different housing sites and the daily assigned work sites and at the end of the day. Drivers must possess a valid state driver license, must be able to pass a medical exam and register as an FLCE driver. The employer will be responsible for the cost of the state driver license, medical exam and registration as an FLCE driver. All employees in this position will be given the opportunity to obtain a driver license and register as an FLCE driver on a voluntary basis. The DL and FLCE Certificate are not a condition of employment.

Special Requirements

Qualifying workers must have one month of agricultural experience working in grape vineyard activities. All qualified applicants must have the authorization to work in the United States, be willing to perform the agricultural duties as described in this job order and be able to meet the physical demands of the position and the employer's work schedule with or without reasonable accommodation.