Statement from Senator Helming on Farm Laborers Wage Board Decision

The 2-1 decision today by the Farm Laborers Wage Board to lower the overtime threshold is yet another blow to the agriculture industry and threatens to drive our small family farms out of business and workers out of the state.  

The farmers and farmworkers I’ve spoken with across our district have shared how detrimental this decision would be. This was further reinforced by hours of testimony by farmers and employees at public hearings, and by a Cornell University study that showed the negative consequences this policy will have for farms and farmworkers. In short, we risk losing the farms that sustain our communities and the workers who help sustain our farms. 

Albany continues to ignore the data, and the voices of our hardworking farmers and workers. I urge Labor Commissioner Reardon to reject the Board’s recommendation.