Schwarzenegger vetos farm overtime bill

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a bill which would have required overtime pay for California farm workers after 8-hour days. The Governor wrote in his veto message the requirement would be burdensome, “recognizing that agricultural work is different from other industries: it is seasonal, subject to unpredictability of Mother Nature and requires the harvesting of perishable goods.”

Supporters of the bill contend those who work in the fields should not be treated differently from those who process and pack the food or stock the grocery store shelves.

California does, in fact, have a law requiring overtime pay for farm workers for anything over 10 hours per day or for the seventh day of a week after six consecutive days of 10 hours or more. No other state has any overtime requirement for farm workers.