Lawsuit circumvents Oregonians and threatens local farming

REPRESENTATIVE DANIEL BONHAM &
REPRESENTATIVE SHELLY BOSHART DAVIS
Press Release,

SALEM, Ore. – Representative Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) and Representative Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany) released the following statements in response to a lawsuit filed by the Oregon Law Center that seeks to force an overtime policy on Oregon agriculture that ignores the realities of the industry and threatens its future in the state.

“Attorneys are attempting to circumvent a legislative process already underway by forcing a deeply partisan and costly overtime policy on Oregon’s farm and ranch families,” said Representative Bonham. “Their intention to expand a 2017 manufacture overtime bill is completely disconnected with the intention of this original legislation that has nothing to do with agriculture production. Oregon’s family farms are already suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, market and shipping disruptions and extreme weather events. Despite these struggles, the Oregon Law Center is pushing an agenda that could be the final nail in the coffin for countless Oregon families and local producers.”

“This unnecessary action sidelines an inclusive legislative process on agriculture overtime,” added Representative Boshart Davis. “Capping the hours of employees working in agriculture and driving up costs to family farms could be devastating to Oregon’s ag economy with negative consequences. That’s why this is a very complex process that needs a careful approach with everyone’s input. This lawsuit takes a sledgehammer to the conversations underway and forces a one-size-fits-all solution for the entire industry in the state with little care for how it will negatively impact our local farms and families.”