Salinas, Calif.-based D’Arrigo Bros. of California signed a new contract with the United Farm Workers union that will cover more than 1,500 farm workers, according to a news release.
The agreement provides family medical, dental and vision benefits for the farm workers that will be paid for by D’Arrigo. Health insurance will be provided by the Robert F. Kennedy Medical Plan, a plan established in 1968 specifically for farm workers and their families.
“Both parties have come to a new era of a working relationship and realize the agricultural workers need to be taken care of,” president John D’Arrigo said in the release. “That investment will hopefully translate into people wanting to work here the whole season,”
Employees also receive hourly and productivity pay increases. The incentive and box pay rate will increase by 3% in the first year, 3% in the second year and 2.5% in the third year. Workers will also receive six paid holidays a year, and loaders and machine operators who use their personal vehicles will be paid 50 cents per mile for travel time.
“To be willing to put that much investment in their employees really demonstrates the value that John D’Arrigo is placing on his employees,” UFW president Arturo Rodriguez said in the release.
