Gov. Christine Gregoire announces support for AgJOBS passage

For Immediate Release: October 11, 2005

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YAKIMA � Oct. 11, 2005 � Gov. Christine Gregoire today announced her support of federal legislation that strengthens protections for farm workers and cuts through red tape for growers.

Flanked by Mike Gempler, Executive Director of the Washington Growers League, and Erik Nicholson, Regional Director of the United Farm Workers, Gov. Gregoire encouraged Congressional passage of the Agricultural Jobs, Opportunity, Benefits and Security Act of 2005, or AgJOBS.

�This legislation is key to the success of Washington State agriculture to maintain its competitiveness in the world marketplace and the farm workers who contribute to that success,� Gov. Gregoire said. �Of great importance to our growers, AgJOBS cuts cumbersome paperwork requirements and speeds the approval process through the U.S. Department of Labor.

�Of benefit to our farm worker community, AgJOBS ensures that employers provide required benefits, wages and working conditions,� she added.

In Washington State, it is estimated by growers and farm workers that AgJOBS would have a positive effect on 50,000 agricultural workers, most of whom are employed in the labor intensive hand harvesting required for many of our crops like cherries, apples and pears.

The legislation is the result of several years of negotiations between key farm worker advocates, particularly the UFW, and the agriculture industry at the national level. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell co-sponsored the original legislation in 2003 in response to the need expressed by growers and farm workers.

Agriculture is Washington�s top employer, accounting for more than 33,000 full time equivalent employees statewide in 2003.

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