General Farm Workers

at Riverside Ag Works LLC in Somerton, Arizona, United States

Job Description

Farm workers are responsible for performing general farm upkeep tasks and harvesting of Dates, often requiring physical stamina and the ability to work in various weather conditions.

Tree Work – All tree (Date Palms) work requires either working from the ground while standing or walking on uneven ground or working from a basket/platform that is raised by a forklift or reach lift that will be raised off the ground that could be as high as 55 feet off the ground. Employees will be pruning and hoeing date trees, using both hands pruning shears, pruning loppers and long handled hoes.

Specific to Date Palms - De-thorn job is done by removing thorns from palms with curved knife while standing on the ground or in a raised platform, by moving the knife along the edges of the frond removing the thorns. Pollinating is done by removing the husk of the flower and tying a string around the strands at the middle of the flower, and possibly removing a portion of the flower, if necessary, applying date pollen by hand with a small rubber pollinating tool. Cutting Centers/ Strands/ Thinning is done by removing the center of the bunches with a hand pruner, and selectively removing dates or cutting strands to length. Tying for direction is done by choosing the natural direction of the bunch/fruit arm and bending it without breaking, and then tying it to support the weight of the fruit arm. The employee will insert metal rings carefully between the strands of the fruit bunch and then applying a fruit bag over the bunch while securing the bag to the bunch. Closing of the bag is done prior to harvest using twine or Velcro on the bag. All jobs are done under the direction of the foreman and supervisor to ensure quality of work.

Harvest- All (Date Palms) harvest requires either working from the ground while standing or walking on uneven ground or working from a basket/platform that is raised by a forklift or reach lift that will be raised off the ground that could be as high as 55 feet off the ground. Harvest is done by identifying fruit by color, and texture and picking accordingly and placing fruit into trays that are then moved to the field trailers or pallets. Removing is done by using a knife and cutting the twine and taking off bag. Bags are then counted/folded and put on pallets for storage. Fruit arms are then cut off using a knife. All jobs are done under the direction of the foreman and supervisor to ensure quality of work.

Groundwork – Planting Date Palms is done by digging a hole with a shovel and placing Date Palms that could weigh up to 50 lbs. from a potted container into the hole and replacing soil. Specific to Date Palms-Cutting Shoots is done by removing shoots on side of palm trees by placing chisel between shoot and tree and hammering the chisel to remove the shoot. Shoots are also removed from the side of the trees by placing a metal bar and prying the shoot off the tree. Cleaning Date Palms -Weeding – While working on uneven ground, either dig with a shovel, or use a crowbar with a hammer, to remove shoots from base of Date Palms. Weeding is done with a long-handled hoe, or by hand if necessary. All jobs are done under the direction of the foreman and supervisor to ensure quality of the work.

Irrigation – qualified workers to assist in checking/repairing drip lines, ensuring that every (Date Palms) has water, pulling occasional weeds, checking pumps, filling out checklist. All jobs are done under the direction of the foreman and supervisor to ensure quality of the work.

One (1) month of general date work. Work is performed in open fields and may involve exposure to mud, dust, wind, heat, cold, and
other natural elements. Temperatures can range from 30 degrees Fahrenheit to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the period of
employment. Workers should come prepared with appropriate clothing and footwear for the environmental and working conditions
described. No smoking, alcohol, firearms in the field or residential housing. Proficiency in English or Spanish is required for training
and safety purposes. (i.e. Workers must listen to, understand and follow instructions of Employer supervisors and managers.)

Tools and equipment: The Company will provide tools and equipment necessary to perform all required tasks at no cost to the worker. Tools and equipment include, but are not limited to, knives, hair nets, and gloves if needed to perform the job. The reasonable repair and or replacement cost of tools or equipment may be deducted from the worker’s paycheck for willful damage or loss of such tools or equipment. The employer will not make any deduction from the wage or require any reimbursement from an employee for any cash shortage, breakage, or loss of equipment, unless it can be shown that such shortage, breakage, or loss is caused by a dishonest or willful act, or by the gross negligence of the employee.

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 sprays. The Company will comply with all worker protection standards and restrictions applicable to pesticides and other chemicals. Workers are also required to comply with all applicable worker protection standards as communicated by forepersons, supervisors, and managers.

Daily individual work assignments will be made by, and at the sole discretion of, the employer as the needs of the operation dictate. Workers must perform the assigned work and work at the assigned field work site and may not switch assignments without the specific authorization of a company supervisor. Workers may be re-assigned to a different field site at various times during the workday and/or on different days.

Workers will be expected to comply with all provisions of this Clearance Order and the Company’s work rules, policies and procedures, and to perform any and all assigned tasks in a work-person-like and efficient manner. Failure to do so will subject the worker to the employer’s disciplinary procedures. Riverside Ag endeavors to produce a premium product. This is a demanding, competitive business. A high-quality product is expected and demanded by our customers. Sloppy or improper work cannot and will not be tolerated.

All safety rules and instructions must be meticulously observed throughout the workday. All Riverside Ag rules and policies must be followed, to the extent that they do not conflict with the provisions of this Clearance Order and/or the U.S. Department of Labor’s H-2A regulations. A copy of the applicable rules and policies will be provided to each worker on or before the first day of work. Failure to comply with Company policies and/or meet expectations will result in application of specified disciplinary procedures, up to and including termination.

No persons conducting activities prohibited by law are permitted on company premises or in housing. Visitors are not permitted to remain in the housing overnight. Importantly, no non-working children may be present at or adjacent to the worksite or left in vehicles at or adjacent to the work site or in Company provided housing during the workday. Workers arriving to work with non-working children or other non-workers will be sent home.

Employees must not report for work, enter the work site or perform service while under the influence of or having used alcohol or any illegal controlled substance. Employees must not report for work, or perform service, while under the influence of, or impaired by, prescription drugs, medications or other substances that may in any way adversely affect their alertness, coordination, reaction response or safety. The Company may require the worker to submit to a drug/alcohol test, at the employer’s expense, upon the occurrence of a reportable accident, or upon reasonable suspicion, or if the employee’s name is randomly drawn in conjunction with the Company’s Substance Abuse Policy (e.g., for employees in safety sensitive positions such as forklift and tractor drivers).

TRAINING: Training will be provided for 10 days from each worker’s initial date of employment.
PRODUCTION STANDARDS:
Workers will be expected to keep up with the production standards which is determined by comparing a worker’s hourly productivity to other workers assigned to the same commodity, crop variety, field site and location within a field site and at the time that work is performed. Employer will review workers’ productivity at the end of a given pay period and not on a daily basis. If workers fail to keep up with the average minimum standard as defined above, workers may be offered alternate work, if available, or, after notice, workers may be terminated for cause.

The normal work week is 7 hours per day, Monday through Friday (35 hours per week). Saturday and Sunday work may be offered but is not required. The workday start times may vary from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and the workday end time is 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (depending on the start time). Workers are notified of any change in the start time. Overtime work is available but not required. Workers may be requested to work Sundays or Federal Holidays depending on the conditions of the fields, weather, and maturity of the crop. However, Employer does not require overtime or work on Sundays and Federal Holidays.

An unpaid lunch break of 30 minutes and no less than two paid 10-minute work breaks are provided. On workdays of less than 5 hours no lunch break will be provided. The second ten-minute break is only provided on workdays of 6 hours or more. Workers must refrain from performing any work during scheduled rest breaks and for the full period of the scheduled lunch break. Workers will be assigned a specific work schedule at the sole discretion of the employer. Work schedule assignments may be changed at the sole discretion of the employer.

The work described in this Clearance Order is regular, full time work requiring all workers to be available for work on a daily basis. This is not "day work". Tardiness and/or unexcused absences will not be tolerated, and will result in disciplinary action as set forth in the employer’s employment policies.

All workers not occupying employer-provided housing must provide the employer with contact information before the worker commences employment. This contact information will be used to notify the worker not to report to work due to inclement weather or when work is not available or to notify the worker of any change in the worker’s daily work schedule, or for any other reason.

Employees may experience a temporary reduction in work and/or a temporary work stoppage due to the natural agricultural cycle.

Wage offer: $15.32 per hour for domestics and $15.15 for H-2As.

Workers will be guaranteed not less than the higher of the AEWR in effect at the time work is performed, the prevailing hourly wage or piece rate, the agreed upon collective bargaining wage, or the Federal or State minimum wage for all hours worked. Employer will pay the hourly rate for work performed in Arizona ($15.32/$15.15 per hour) and will not pay a piece rate. Employer assures that the required wage rate will be paid at the time that the work is performed. The Employer may pay a different wage but only if such wage change results in a wage equal to or higher than the AEWR or published prevailing rate, if any. The Employer may pay an hourly rate higher than the AEWR based on the experience level of an employee, length of employment with this employer, skill quality, market conditions and/or crop/job activity. If the prevailing wage (hourly or piece rate) or AEWR increases during the contract period, the employer will pay any higher rate after publication or written notice is received from the Department of Labor. Notice can be in the form of a written letter or publication in the Federal Register.

Overtime: Overtime will not be paid as it is not required in Arizona.

Employer assures that they will pay the highest of such rates prevailing hourly wage rate; or federal/state minimum wage rates.

Frequency of Pay: Weekly

Workers will be paid on a weekly basis by check. Payday is Friday of the week following the end of the payroll period.

Remove bags for harvesting and harvest as all jobs are done under the direction of the foreman and supervisor to ensure quality of work. Able to lift 40 lbs. Workers may occasionally and/or sporadically perform duties associated with and directly related to the primary duties. Responsible for meeting all quality, sanitation, food safety rules and GAP Practices