By Clint Thompson
Next month’s Georgia Agricultural Labor Relations Forum is an opportunity for growers to receive timely information about various labor-related topics.
Chris Butts, director of legislative affairs with the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, said the two-day event is essential for producers who need to stay up to date on important labor-related issues.
“There are so many things at play, potentially, in D.C., from OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) mandates for vaccines to potential H-2A changes to the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. We’re trying to keep our pulse on all those and keep our folks up to date and informed so they’re ready for any of those potential changes, on top of the day-to-day challenges that a grower faces; making sure they’re compliant with all of the rules and participating in an H-2A or H-2B program for some of our other folks,” Butts said.
Event Details
The event is scheduled for Nov. 9-10 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. It is tailored to providing growers and industry leaders updates about various labor-related policies; from a political point of view with Bob Redding of The Redding Firm; an overview of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act; as well as updates from OSHA and the Department of Labor.
It will also address the H-2A program. This allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the U.S. to fill temporary agricultural jobs. But the process is so cumbersome that events like the labor relations forum help highlight any new details that farmers need to be mindful of.
“It’s become so critical to all of our producers and it’s really the only option they’ve got. They’ve got to be informed. They’ve got to be up to date. It speaks to the need to have this every year,” Butts said. “It’s a complicated and involved program. They’ve got to know the rules and stay ahead of them and remain compliant.”
Click here to register for the event.