'President' urges gov to sign farmworker OT bill

SacBee: Capitol Alert ^ | 7/13/10 | Susan Ferriss

[SmithL]

Martin Sheen, who played fictional "West Wing" U.S. president Jed Bartlett, is urging one of his fellow actors to sign a state bill granting overtime parity to California farmworkers.

"This measure's time has come at long last! It is fair and just and your signature will add a moral depth to your legacy," says a hand penned letter by Sheen to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Sheen's letter is dated July 9 and was released today by Sen. Dean Florez, a Democrat from Shafter. Florez is the author of Senate Bill 1121, which would lift a 1941 exemption in state labor code that excludes farm laborers from getting overtime after an eight-hour day or a 40-hour week.

Florez's bill passed the Legislature last month and is headed for Schwarzenegger's desk.

[funfan]

I am not a real President but I played one on TV

[Cheetahcat]

Let lefty Sheen pay it.

[DB]

So the state is bankrupt...

What to do...

Push more farms under...

Stupid on steroids...

[HChampagne]

I like this idea of OT for Calif workers because it would give farmers in other parts of the country more of a level playing field. Calif can produce produce (not two verbs) at an artificially low rate because of illegal labor. Am I wrong? I really want to know the facts.

[VeniVidiVici]

Yeah, this may actually be a good idea to drive more illegals out of the US.

[gleeaikin]

In my area, east coast, the Wage Hours Board requires overtime pay for all non salary work over 8 hours a day, or 40 hours per week. Farm labor is hard physical work. I was covered by this law for sitting on my slowly spreading fanny in an office.

[Amerigomag]

I really want to know the facts.

High irony for someone hiding in the shadows on FR.

Tell us who you are and we might be a little more willing to communicate.

[IMR 4350]

Paying for farm work?

There’s a novel concept.

Wish my old man would have thought of that.

[FreeAtlanta]

I urge the governement to abandon minimum wage until we get out of this Obama inspired Great Depression. Unfortunately, “Democrats” control the show, and they are too stupid to realize the danger we are in and too busy trying to buy votes. sorry POCs

[Freddd]

Unfcknbelievable.

[okie01]

Anybody who promotes a standard 40-hr week construction in agriculture has obviously never a.) run a farm or b.) worked on a farm.

Based on the weather, crop development, the season, etc. -- there is no such thing as a 40-hr week!

There are twenty hour weeks, no hour weeks and sixty, even eighty, hour weeks. Sometimes, there are weekends, sometime there aren't.

Over the years, farmers and farmworkers have arrived at an accommodation that reflects reality.

Now, this ignorant idiot, insists on imposing his own reality -- union-imposed -- direct from the Hollywood studio, into the almond orchards and the asparagus beds.

In the end, it will cost the farmers money. And the farmworkers, their jobs.

Sheen will, of course, feel good about himself...

[RipSawyer]

“Paying for farm work?

There’s a novel concept.

Wish my old man would have thought of that.”
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

He did but like mine he allowed for shelter and deducted for food and allowed for clothing and school and purty soon he ‘lowed dat de ducks dun et up all yo pay.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Not only that, he stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

[IMR 4350]

You work sixteen tons
And wadda ya get
Another day older and a deeper in debt

While other kids spend their after school time, weekends, and summers playing, you spend it working.

People that grew up in the cities have no concept do they?

[RipSawyer]

“People that grew up in the cities have no concept do they?”
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Not really, I turned eleven about the time that Tennessee Ernie recorded his version of Sixteen Tons. The first time I heard it on the radio I turned to my mother and told her that it would be a number one hit record and it is still his biggest selling record. I knew it would be a hit because something in it rang true with those who knew what real hard work was. By age eleven I was already all too familiar with hard work but now I am glad I didn’t grow up the easy way. I might have turned out like one of those people who think roughing it means driving a stick shift.

[IMR 4350]

In the late 70’s when I was running a crew, the people that had never worked a day in their life were always the ones that were about to get themselves or someone else hurt or killed.

I ran those people off by the dozens.

Trying to teach someone how to work after they've reached 18 was almost impossible. Everything was play to them.

[RipSawyer]

“Trying to teach someone how to work after they’ve reached 18 was almost impossible. Everything was play to them.”
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

I can believe that! Before I was 18 I knew how to plan a day’s work and go and get it done without supervision. That is what kids need now, to be taught to do something and then allowed to plan a day and go and get it done on their own. It gives a person a whole different outlook.

[IMR 4350]

Working for room and board as a kid also teaches you the value of a job.

Hard work for free has a way of making minimum wage look good.

Kids now days don't even mow their own yard because it's too hard or too dangerous for mommas little darling's, or if they do they get paid the same as a lawn service.