Vineyard Farmworker

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
grapes.
Performs a variety of tasks under supervision in vineyard/winery operation. Primary tasks are grape production and agricultural activities, including planting and cultivating vines and harvesting grapes. Performs vineyard canopy management to permit light and air to circulate around grapevines, including thinning fruit and removing shoots and vines. Performs vineyard maintenance activities, such as weed control with mowers and chemicals. Sprays vines and fruit with herbicides, pesticides and fungicides. Installs and maintains vine trellises and ties vines to trellises. May load and unload trucks, install irrigation equipment and clean equipment. Assists in moving harvested fruit from field to processing area. May perform general indoor tasks or post-harvest activities (e.g., packing or moving products to storage at winery facility) when outdoor vineyard work is not available (all such activities will be performed incident to or in conjunction with vineyard operation).

Workers must be prepared to work outdoors in cold weather. Work will take place when the temperatures exceed 10 degrees F. unless the wind chill factor is +10 degrees F. or colder. Workers will be expected to work in light snow. Workers should be able to work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Workers will assist in loading trucks with product weighing up to and including 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, insect spray, related chemicals, etc. may affect workers' ability to perform the job. Workers should be physically able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations.

Work may also include mechanized field work using power equipment. By way of example and not limitation power equipment may include tractors, planters, sprayers, cultivators and other equipment. Workers will be expected to be able to operate agricultural equipment with or without direction.

Persons seeking employment as a vineyard farmworker must be available for the entire period requested by the employer.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's 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 will have an unpaid lunch break.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a five-day trial 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 trial period if the worker's performance fails to satisfy the employer's 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 trial 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 employer's recruitment period. Job abandonment will be deemed to occur after five consecutive workdays of unexcused absences. Workers may not report for work under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Possession or use of illegal drugs or alcohol on company premises is prohibited and will be cause for immediate termination.

Special Requirements

Jobs offered are working in a vineyard handling both manual and machine tasks associated with commodity production and harvest activities. Workers must be able to perform manual as well as mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs.