Vineyard Workers

Job description

Vineyard Worker to perform the following duties:

Fruit thinning, leafing, suckering, hoeing, leafing pruning, installing wire mesh & trellis, harvesting, tractor driving, clean-up, spraying and other related viticulture operations include regular vineyard labor before harvest including tractor driving, fruit thinning, suckering, leafing pruning, hoeing, installing wire mesh and trellises, harvesting, clean-up, and spraying.

WINE GRAPE HARVEST WORKER:

Wine Grape Harvest Workers use a knife to cut grape bunches off of grape vines and into a tub (also called a lug). The tub/lug is then dumped into a bin (also called a gondola). May drive a tractor directly in connection with picking grapes. Tractor driving, weed control and property maintenance, leaf picking, crop thinning, tally sheet recording, and picking with a machine harvester.

GENERAL VINEYARD WORKER (Non-Harvest):

Assisting in the production, planting, and maintenance of vineyards, which involves preparing the soil, erecting trellis and irrigation equipment, pruning and training vines, and controlling pests/diseases with regular spraying.
CalVan Driver-

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. CalVans 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).

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. All costs associated with obtaining a driver's license will be the responsibility of the employer. 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

1 month of vineyard work experience. Workers must be able to lift 65 lbs frequently. No smoking or illegal weapons or controlled substances in the vineyards or in the houses. Cannot be color blind due to the need to distinguish colors of crops. Able to stoop, bend, and work in cold and wet conditions. Able to use tools such as pruning shears, grape knives, hand saws, weed eaters, hedgers, shovels. Workers may use chains saws. Safety use and training provided by employer. Workers must abide by Employer housing rules. Workers must be able to communicate in English or Spanish for training and safety purposes. (i.e. Workers must listen to, understand and follow instructions of Employer supervisors and managers.)

See Addendum C.