Redd Group Hosts Important Management Seminar March 26 in Bakersfield

The Redd Group Presents Management Seminar to Help All Segments of Ag Industry Comply with Arduous Regs

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

Jesse Rojas is the Founder and CEO of The Redd Group, LLC, based in Bakersfield. The Redd Group consults with employers to improve employee relations by using and implementing new methods of communication. Jesse and The Redd Group is presenting another important Management Seminar for many segments in the agricultural industry, and that half-day seminar will be on March 26, 2020, in Bakersfield at 4900 California Avenue, Tower B, Second Floor from 1 pm to 5 pm.

“I’m happy to present this seminar again in Bakersfield. Anyone from owners, operators, human resources team members, farm labor contractors, and administrators,” said Rojas. “We’re going to have specific presentations once again from Michael Saqui with the Saqui Law Group. He is the agricultural industry’s most powerful partner on labor issues. I’ve known Michael for several years, and his group recently became a division of Dowling and Aaron, so there are a lot of bigger in the State of California. He’s going to be focusing on a few new topics this year.”

“One of the topics of discussion is PAGA the Private Attorney General’s Act, which many companies have been affected by this frivolous law from the State of California and shark attorneys are suing in class action lawsuits suffocating companies. So, he will be giving a status on how do we attack and how do you protect your company from this PAGA fiasco.” Rojas continued.

“And one of the hottest controversial topics this year as well, as you might know, is AB-5, the Independent Contracting Bill. And really the consequences of AB-5 are going to affect agriculture as well because agriculture, like any other industry requires independent contractors, a lot of companies they need to move their product and they have independent truckers or they have other independent contractors they use in agriculture. And by affecting agriculture, I mean everything from growers, packers, shippers, FLCs, and, most importantly, the workforce. And how do you protect yourself from it?

What can you do to be in compliance with AB-5? As you might’ve heard with some of the pressure coming down on AB-5, they’re working in the legislature on introducing a few different bills to address some of these AB-5 broad consequences.” Rojas emphasized. So that’s going to be very interesting that we discuss AB-5 regardless of how big you are and what specific industry you are in, you need to be aware and know all the ins and outs of AB-5.” said Rojas.

And like in previous seminars, employee relations will be discussed as well. “Myself and Raul Calvo, we’re going to be focusing on, like you mentioned, employee relations. So leadership development for supervisors and managers, proper ways to resolve conflict within your company and your employees. And then strategies for effective employee relations, thinking outside the box to be on the cutting edge of your labor relations and labor management by implementing new methods of communication.” Rojas said.

And of course, with the labor shortages throughout the Central Valley, another hot topic at this seminar will be H-2A.

“As you know, with our labor shortage and changes in work culture in agriculture and farming, H-2A’s becoming one of the best methods to provide labor, efficient labor, high productivity. But it still comes with compliance and loopholes that you have to clearly understand to properly asses if H-2A is the right fit for your company. So we will be discussing H-2A as well.” Rojas explained.

You are encouraged to share the event flyer with the appropriate individuals in other companies who could benefit from the information. Again the event is going to take place on Thursday, March 26, 2020, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm, and registration at 12:30 pm. The location will be at the Cal Twin Towers, 4900 California Avenue, Tower B, Second Floor in the Cal King Room. The cost of the event is $50 per person, and seating is limited. You can register by calling or texting 844-946-7333 or email jesse@reddgroup.org.

Farm Workers Fearful for Future

Americans not interested in farm worker jobs, Western Growers Association says

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Farm News Director

Jason Resnick

The noble farm workers moving though California orchards and vineyards – where they are pruning trees and tying vines, along with other winter work – are fearful that they could be deported.

“They are scared because there has been a lot of the rhetoric in the news out there that’s come from the presidential campaign,” said Jason Resnick, Vice President and general counsel for the Western Growers Association, based in Irvine. “It has certainly raised concerns for workers. However, we are confident that the President-elect understands the needs of agriculture, the importance of agriculture and that we rely on these workers to harvest the crops that feed the country and the world.”

“For the last decade agricultural leaders through all segments of the ag industry have been leaning hard on Congress for an immigration reform package that will do two things: One that will help us to maintain our existing workforce and to normalize their status,” Resnick said. “And two, we need lawmakers to streamline the future flow of workers who want to come here for the season and do the work and return back to their home country. It’s really a two-prong approach that we are looking for.”

And there has been additional rhetoric, along with letters to editors in major newspapers across the country. Many uninformed people are saying that farm workers should not be here because they are taking away American jobs.

“We’ve known for years and it’s been tested and proven again and again that Americans won’t pick crops at any wage,” Resnick said. “As part of the H2A temporary agricultural program that allows agricultural employee who are facing a shortage of domestic workers to bring foreign workers to the U.S. to perform ag work services on a seasonal basis, we have advertised for American workers in multiple states.”

“We are seeking American workers to do the work at considerable higher wages than minimum wage,” he said. “And we do not get many Americans applying at all. And when we do, they come to work and they barely last a day, let alone the season.”

“People in this country would do almost anything rather than farm work,” Resnick said.