OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington state farmworkers could be poised to receive overtime pay under a measure in the Legislature.

Senate Bill 5172 would phase in, starting with overtime pay for more than 55 hours of work per week in 2022 and would be completely implemented for more than 40 hours of work in 2024.

Marciano Sanchez, union organizer with Familias Unidas por la Justicia, said people work as much as 80 hours per week, sometimes for minimum wage, and come home exhausted.

"Especially having to work in the summer when temperatures get to 100 degrees sometimes," said Sanchez. "People aren't supposed to be out there 10 to 12 hours a day working that kind of conditions."

Senate Bill 5172 originally was designed to protect farmers from liability for paying farmworkers because of a state Supreme Court decision that ruled denying agricultural laborers overtime was unconstitutional. As a compromise, lawmakers have agreed to phase in overtime pay on farms.

The bill is scheduled for an executive session today in the House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards.

Joe Kendo, government affairs director with the Washington State Labor Council, said agriculture workers were excluded from overtime protections in federal law during New Deal negotiations, and the exclusion has racist roots.

Southern states wanted to carve out these workers because most of them were Black. Kendo noted that the bill isn't just about putting farmworkers on equal footing with other workers.

"It really is, fundamentally, I think, a health and safety and public-health issue as much as it is a wage-equity issue," said Kendo.

Farmers opposed to the bill have argued it will be hard to pay overtime wages because farms work on tight margins and it could mean they have to cut workers' hours.

There are about 100,000 farmworkers in Washington state.


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Overflow crowds are showing up at town hall meetings in Iowa, which had been planned to allow people to ask questions of their congressional representatives. But the lawmakers are not showing up.

Constituents are attending town hall meetings at libraries across the state to ask about potential changes to Social Security, cuts to government agencies - and rollbacks of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs.

But Iowa American Federation of Labor President Charlie Wishman said U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller Meeks - R-Davenport - and U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn - R-Bondurant - are among lawmakers who haven't shown up to listen.

"And if they don't show up, we still have crowds that are standing room only or overflowing," said Wishman, "just to try and talk to an empty chair."

Wishman said advocacy groups are trying to find other ways to connect people with their representatives - including by writing postcards or emails, or calling their Washington offices with questions about the Trump administration's effort to reduce spending and downsize the federal government.

The advisory group, the Department of Government Efficiency - overseen by SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk - has announced plans to terminate leases for seven federal office buildings in Iowa, including for the IRS, the Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Wishman said the cuts mean terminating important positions for federal workers in Iowa.

"Bird flu people," said Wishman, "or they work at the disease lab up in Ames or, like, something that we really need staffed."

Wishman said since lawmakers didn't show up to the scheduled town hall meetings, attendees wrote their questions on postcards - which he says will be delivered to the congressional representatives' offices.

Apprenticeship programs are getting more attention these days to help fill skilled labor shortages but accessibility is seen is a barrier and Minnesota could boost support for a program that opens its arms to disadvantaged populations.

A Minnesota House committee heard testimony this week on a bill that would provide $800,000 over the next two budget years to the Building Strong Communities program, a regional nonprofit spearheaded by construction union partners.

Natalie Pilrain, a recent graduate of the program, said as a single mom trying to finish high school, it gave her the chance at a promising career by overcoming up-front hurdles.

"At the time, I didn't have extra money lying around for work boots or hotel expenses for going up to the training center," Pilrain pointed out. "Building Strong Communities covered those costs for me."

She is now earning strong wages as an apprentice with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49. Bill sponsors said additional state funds could help the program further fulfill its mission to recruit women, minorities and veterans. The measure has bipartisan sponsors but like other proposals this spring, it faces an uncertain future with Minnesota's budget surplus getting smaller.

Dorlisa Squires, also a program graduate, said officials were very responsive when she asked about it. After working in the medical device field for many years, Squires told the committee she wound up homeless without a promising career outlook. She stressed her new journey through the trades has given her a fresh start.

"Now I have a career and now I have placement," Squires explained. "I have an apartment, a car."

Officials said the free training has led to 107 job placements over a two-year period.

A new study commissioned by the federal Department of Labor said registered apprenticeship programs dramatically increase the ability of participants to afford basic needs, especially initiatives led by unions. The movement comes as the industry still hears complaints about long-standing issues such as nepotism.


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The seven national parks in Arkansas have not been spared from job cuts by the federal government.

Nationwide, 1,700 park employees have been let go by the Trump administration.

Eboni Preston, southeast regional director and National Park Service diversity lead for the National Parks Conservation Association, said the cuts will impact park services and the Arkansas economy.

"By fewer people being able to come to the parks, enjoy the parks, hotels are suffering, restaurants are suffering," Preston pointed out. "Walking up and down the community, it's really taking a toll, and so places like Hot Springs National Park and Buffalo National River, unfortunately they won't get the visitation that they did before."

She noted park visitors will also experience reduced hours, longer lines and closed campgrounds and facilities. Anyone going to a national park is encouraged to check the park's website for schedule changes.

Last year a record 331 million people visited national parks. Preston stressed with 9% of the workforce gone, park visitors will have a different experience this year.

"The National Park Service is always going to prioritize safety," Preston explained. "The rangers are going to do everything that they can to manage that, but what that means is there may be fewer opportunities to experience some of those unique places, especially if they're difficult to get to. So, just be mindful of that and then offering grace to the people that are there."

Preston added although morale is down, park employees are dedicated to help you have a good experience.

"It's really, really hard, but they're a committed group of people," Preston observed. "They're still smiling, they're still prioritizing the visitors. They're still making sure that everything is safe, they still are committed to the work that they signed up to do. You talk to most rangers, if you talk to most staff, they really feel called to this work."


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