Two Salinas vegetable producers are paying $17,000 to compensate a former employee over unfair labor practices. 

The California Agricultural Labor Relations Board found that Fanciful Co. and D’Arrigo Bros. Co. retaliated against the farmworker after they reported unfair working conditions on behalf of their team. The worker’s complaints were in reaction to a fast-paced cauliflower harvesting machine, lack of work breaks during hot weather and incorrect wage payments.

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The companies agreed to respect farmworkers’ right to speak out against work conditions and seek improvements without retaliation. 

ALRB is also requiring the companies to offer the worker reinstatement to their previous position. The associated cauliflower harvesting crew will be visited by ALRB staff, who will inform them of their rights under the Agricultural Labor Relations Act.

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