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Show UTAH FARM BUREAU Producers now can plant Page 6 Wage Rates Established for Sugarbeet Workers contract to receive. After three years of unrestrict- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the fair and reasonable wage requirements for sugarbeet work In all producing areas, that became effective April 27 1970. The determination Increases the minimum time rate 10 cents to Minimum piecework rates are Inhour from $1.65 $1.75. per creased by amounts ranging from $0.50. to $1.25 per acre. The new rates are $12.75 for thinning; $16.50 for hoeing; $20.00 for and $10.50 for weeding. The rate for blocking and thinning, applicable only in California, Is Increased $1.50 per acre to $28.00. hoe-trlmml- ng; The determination continues the provision which permits the employment of weeding, with a hoe only, as a ation. first hand labor oper- the applicable piecework rate is Increased $0.50 per acre to $10.50. The use of this operation Is limited to fields that have been machine --thinned and treated with herbicides. A provision is Included In the determination for the first time which Increases the specified piece work rates by 25 percent for row spacing of 19 Inches or less but more than 16 Inches and by 35 percent for spacing of 16 Inches or less. Prior determinations have provided for reductions In basic piecework rates for row widths ranging from 28 Inches upward. This provision Is continued. Piecework rates for hand labor operations not specified In the determination may be agreed upon by the producer and worker, provided the worker's average hourly earnings equal or exceed the $1.75 hourly minimum rate. A minimum hourly wage rate of not less than 85 percent of the specified minimum rate Is pro as many 1970 crop sugarbeets as they wish. However, USDA pointed out that a producer cannot afford to plant more beets than a factory will vided for workers 14 and 15 years of age. Youths 14 or 15 years of age are not permitted to work more than 8 hours In any one day. USDA officials said the wage rates established by the determin- ation are within producers ability to pay under prospective price and production conditions for the 1970 crop. Payment of wages not less than those established by the Secretary of Agriculture Is a requirement that producers must meet to qualify for payments under the Sugar Act of 1948, as amended. Public hearings on wage rates were held in Detroit, Michigan; Fargo, N.D.; Sacramento, California; San Antonio, Texas; and Denver, Colorado, during the period Dec. 1 through Dec. 12, 1969. Removal of acreage restrictions on 1970 crop sugarbeet plantings was announced by U.S.D.A. This action , Department officials said, recognizes the continued lessening of sugar recovery from 1969 crop sugarbeets, as well as some down ward estimates of plantings for 1970. ed production, USDA announced on October 3, 1969, that the 1970 crop would be limited to 1,450,000 acres. This limitation was raised to 1,550,000 acres on Feb. 27, 1970. Before the severe freeze In the Rocky Mountain region last October, it was estimated that 3,820, 000 short tons, Taw value, of beet sugar would be produced from the record 1,660,000 acres planted to sugarbeets In 1969. Production of that magnitude would have resulted M N6 HMANJRYIMaN' fTO KNOCK OFF DRINKING SUCH .BALLY LI S EATING FORTY WAS ADVISED TO EAT AN APPlC EACH TIME HE FELT in excessive Inventories, and that was the reason for initial limitation of the 1970 crop plantings. 1 ROTFAWNCY VLlKE IMOIBINdi, REPLIED. By February this year, frozen sugarbeets and low sugar content beets already processed or then awaiting processing at sugar factories had worsened the outlook to such extent that the crops sugar was estimated at 3,420, 000 tons. Processings since then have also been lower than quantities estimated in February, and the final may be as low as 3,325,000 tons. out-tu- rn Jirr6iS Wokj t23 out-tu- rn Further, it now appears that the acreage allotted to several regions of the country for 1970 crop will not be fully planted. After the experience last fall, processors are contracting only for what acreage which they believe can be processed at their several factories without an unduly-extendprocessing ed season and the resultant risk of severe freeze damage. Chavez Pulls in 3 Contracts In Strategic Coachella Valley Grape Labor Conflict m WELL, IF EVERYBODY FOLLOWED THE TFN COMM ANO MINTS Wf WOULDN'T BE NEEDED, DOWN HERE. by Ed Thomas The United Farm Workers Organization Committee with Cesar Chavez at its head have not given up in their efforts to force unionization on to the agricultural workers who work in the grape vineyards of California. The U.F.W.O.C. has much more as a goal than to organize the grape workers this is only a start, it is their ambition to go far beyond this group of workers. Why did Chavez select Delano? The Delano fresh grape area has, at the of peak harvest, about 8,000 workers quite well paid and with steady jobs. Here Is a large group of workers, relatively close in and easy to contract and also able to pay the Union dues of $3.50 per 1. months. 2. Among the workers here there are a few Americans but most are Mexlcan-Ameri-caFilipinos, and some Puerto Ricans, all Spanish speaking and almost entirely Catholics, as is Chavez. It is highly probable that Chavez counted on these nationality and religious bonds to make his work easier. native ns, - Ii-closed shop is Imposed (Sec. - A check-o- ff is required for union dues, and for union credit union where worker desires. (Secs. II-- A 1-- A, A). Fresh grapes are a very perishable crop and an effective strike at harvest time would be a terrible weapon for a grower to stand up against. 4. Hand picking of grapes will probably continue for a long time because California table grapes do not lend themselves to mechanical harvesting. here are located two large farming which Chavez needed as his first corporations a and as targets backdrop for his propaganda to the effect that the big, rich corporation were de5. Lastly, pressing their farm workers. - A Successor Clause (Sec. Ill) would require continuation of union contract as a condition to sell, lease, or transfer property. - Workers will receive paid vacations. (Sec. ). D - Camp housing must be D see. D II-C- (Sec. provided free of charge. VIII-B- ). Workers cannot be discharged for lmcompetence. (Sec. XII-E- ). -- has right of access to farmer's property (Sec. XIV) and to farmer's pay records. (Sec. XV-B- ). has jurisdiction in determing type, use, and application of all pesticides (Which It calls "economic poisons") and full access to records. (Sec. -- Union D D D D XVIII). D Workers need not work when they believe conditions constitute a health hazard. (Sec. XVIII) at harvest). (Raises the possibility of "sick-in- s" D -- - Compulsory arbitration voked. (Sec. XIX). -- There are about 9,000 grape growers In California - 1,700 of which grow table grapes. Chavez and his organization have been successful In getting three contracts with growers and why any grower would sign such a contract is beyond what we can D X) C, -- Union 3. D of grievances In in- D D Prelude to AFBF Houston Convention Farmers must reveal extensive competitive D mar- keting information to union so that labeling and checking procedures can be established. (Sec. XX-b), and are liable to $10,000 fine plus $1,000 for each carload In shipment - - If determination of mislabeling Is made. H A, THE CONTRACT: No provision is made for worker elections, or worker determination of any kind. XXV) provides (Secbe no strikes, boycotts tion A) that there shall but that (Section B) If they occur efforts will ... be made to avert them! Plaasa send me complete information on tours Naim . Address City - "No strike" clause (Sec. I D Gentlemen: MAIL TO: I have cheeked. Q ZZZZZZZ State Zip UTAH FARM BUREAU TRAVEL 629 E. 4th So. Salt Lake City 84102 D jj - |