Ag overtime bill returns

By Terry Murry on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

SALEM – The overtime bill for agricultural workers is coming up again with the Oregon Legislature. The proposal would require farm workers be paid overtime after they work a 40 hour week. Sen. Bill Hansell (R-Athena) is leading the task force that will seek compromises.

With a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, Democrats can pass whatever they want unless the Republican Party members stage another walkout. Hansell hopes that he’s able to work some compromises into the bill.

“I think we can get there if we do a few exclusions like other states have done,” he said. “Like livestock production. It just isn’t a 40-hour a week business, particularly during lambing and calving season.”

Hansell said in other states with similar legislation, exclusions have also included allowing longer than 40 hours, or exemption of a couple of months at harvest time. He added that farmers and ranchers operate on thin margins and will figure out a way to stay in business that might make things harder on the workers.

“One of the ways to do it is to further mechanize, which doesn’t require as many people,” he said. “Or they’ll just go to straight 20 hours and run more shifts.”