AGRICULTURAL OPERATOR/WORKERS X9, WAPATO, MATTAWA, ZILLAH, BENTON CITY, SUNNYSIDE, WAPATO,
This is a job order for cherry, apples, and pears.
This job opportunity is limited to qualified, available workers that are currently eligible to work in the United States, per federal regulation.
Workers will drive and operate various farm equipment to perform farm field preparation such as spraying, planting, mowing, fertilizing, farming and maintaining farms. Will attach and adjust farm implements and trailers to tractors such as discs, mowers, sprayers, tanks, fertilizer spreaders and planters and will ensure equipment is operating properly at optimum performances. Workers must conduct daily maintenance checks including lubricant
fluid level checks prior to operating the tractor, monitor and drive tractors safely and efficiently over difficult terrain and must have sufficient knowledge of tractor mechanics to make simple and minor adjustments and repairs to tractors. Workers will be required to have knowledge of driving a tractor.
This job requires the appropriate mixing of chemical materials and use of required personal protective clothing and equipment by the worker. The worker will operate a tractor with a mechanical sprayer attached or towed, containing chemicals or fertilizers used during the application process under the direction of the supervisor or crew boss. Spray applicators mix, load and apply Fertilizer and Chemicals using the provided equipment. They must be capable of loading and transporting Chemicals, Fertilizer and Water. Workers must mix and apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides through sprays, dusts, vapors, soil incorporation or chemical application on trees, or ground cover. Workers will maintain spray equipment including preventive maintenance and minor repair. Workers must follow the chemical or fertilizer label requirements, keep records, prepare and maintain reports regarding control and use of pesticides and is responsible for the safe storage and use of pesticides in conformance with all regulations.
Workers will also engage in general farm labor and labor for the raising and harvest of apples, pears, and cherries as defined below.
Cherry, Apple and Pear Harvest:
The worker will hand harvest fruit on a motorized platform, from the ground and/ or utilizing a ladder. The worker will attach the harness, bucket or bag and pick low hanging fruit. The worker will pick according to grade, color and size by grasping fruit with their hands and removing it from the tree in a motion that will not harm buds on tree branches. The worker will carry the harness, bucket or bag of fruit and will place the fruit into lugs. The worker must exercise care at all times to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches. Some workers may be tasked with examining harvested fruit in bins and sort out any fruit not meeting the grade, color and size
specifications.
Additional Duties:
Caring for trees during growing process.
Monitoring tree disease such as blighted branches in apples and gummosis in cherries.
Harvest preparation including spreading liners in bins and rolling bins into blocks by hand.
Loading and unloading empty bins by hand.
Sorting fruit during harvest and verifying quality of fruit
Farm clean up tasks to include picking up garbage around the orchard, removing old string/ wire from trellis/ orchard blocks and other tasks.
Operating farm machinery and/ or motorized vehicles to assist in orchard work and transporting fruit, materials, supplies and workers.
Maintenance tasks for farm machinery.
Assisting Orchard Manager in daily duties
Bin repair
Workers may also:
Operate or maintain equipment used in agricultural production and field preparation such as tractors, irrigation equipment, 4-wheelers, trucks, and other commonly used equipment in agriculture.
Operate tractors to mow, weed spray and trailers in the fields.
Load and mix chemicals in addition to operating tractors pulling air blast sprayers.
Install monitor, maintain and repair the irrigation system for a specified area of the fields.
Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers.
Workers may also clear debris and garbage from fields and clean/maintain farm buildings, structures, equipment, and work areas.
Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs.
Workers may also drive vehicles to transport farm workers, produce and equipment.
Verify bin count and numbers and ensuring bins are adequately full
Communicate with crew boss to ensure bins are full and fruit is handled appropriately
Laying and removing mylar from orchards
Sanitize bins, lugs and buckets
Remove bins from orchards, pick up lugs from orchards
Hoeing of apple trees
Adjust, repair, and service farm machinery and notify supervisors when machinery malfunctions.
*Maintain and operate drip irrigation equipment. Record irrigation times and evaluate need for repairs and adjustments to the irrigation system.
Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions.
Attach farm implements such as plows, discs, sprayers, or harvesters to tractors, using bolts and hand tools.
Operate towed machines to plant, fertilize, dust, and spray crops.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Must have at least three (3) months experience handling manual tasks in a tree fruit orchard.
Enjoys working in a fast-paced, high-energy environment.
Excellent communication skills in English and Spanish preferred, but not required.
The ability to solve mechanical, hydraulic and electrical problems on farm equipment is preferred, but not required
Ability to lift 60 lbs.
HOURS/DAYS/SCHEDULE
7 hours per day, Monday through Friday, 5 hours on Saturday.
The contract period is from March 5, 2024 to November 14, 2024.
SALARY/WAGE/BENEFITS:
No work will be performed at less than the AEWR of $19.25 AEWR
Harvest - Color Picking - Workers will be guaranteed $19.25 per hour, or applicable AEWR.
Harvest - Apples – All other varieties - $28.26 Per Bin (47 X 47 X 24.5) Estimated hourly wage rate equivalent for this piece rate is $21.19 based on workers filling 0.75 bins per hour on average. Workers will be guaranteed $19.25 per hour, or applicable AEWR.
Pruning - Apples- All Varieties - Workers will be guaranteed $19.25 per hour, or applicable AEWR
Harvest - Pears – All Varieties - Workers will be guaranteed $19.25 per hour, or applicable AEWR.
Harvest - Apples, Stem Clip - Low Density - Workers will be guaranteed $19.25 per hour, or applicable AEWR.
Harvest - Cherries
Harvest – Yellow - $.21 per pound. Estimated hourly wage rate equivalent for this piece rate is $21 per hr. based on workers picking 100 lbs per hour on average. Workers will be guaranteed
$19.25 per hour, or applicable AEWR.
Harvest – Sweetheart - $.21 per pound. Estimated hourly wage rate equivalent for this piece rate is $21 per hr. based on workers picking 100 lbs per hour on average. Workers will be guaranteed
$19.25 per hour, or applicable AEWR.
Harvest – Lapin Cherry - $.20 per pound. . Estimated hourly wage rate equivalent for this piece rate is $20 per hr. based on workers picking 100 lbs per hour on average. Workers will be guaranteed $19.25 per hour, or applicable AEWR.
Harvest - Dark Red Cherry - $.22 per pound. Estimated hourly wage rate equivalent for this piece rate is $22 per hr. based on workers picking 100 lbs per hour on average. Workers will be guaranteed $19.25 per hour, or applicable AEWR.
Harvest – Apples
Harvest – Honeycrisp - $31.76 Per Bin (47 X 47 X 24.5) Estimated hourly wage rate equivalent for this piece rate is $23.82/hr. based on workers filling 0.75 bins per hour on average. Workers will be guaranteed $19.25 per hour, or applicable AEWR..
Harvest - Granny Smith - $28.26 Per Bin (47 X 47 X 24.5) Estimated hourly wage rate equivalent for this piece rate is $21.19 based on workers filling 0.75 bins per hour on average. Workers will be guaranteed $19.25 per hour, or applicable AEWR..
Harvest – Gala - $28.26 Per Bin (47 X 47 X 24.5) Estimated hourly wage rate equivalent for this piece rate is $21.19 based on workers filling 0.75 bins per hour on average. Workers will be
guaranteed $19.25 per hour, or applicable AEWR.
Harvest – Fuji - $28.26 Per Bin (47 X 47 X 24.5) Estimated hourly wage rate equivalent for this piece rate is $21.19 based on workers filling 0.75 bins per hour on average. Workers will be
guaranteed $19.25 per hour, or applicable AEWR.
Harvest – Cripps - $30.00 Per Bin (47 X 47 X 24.5) Estimated hourly wage rate equivalent for this piece rate is $22.50/hr. based on workers filling 0.75 bins per hour on average. Workers will be guaranteed $19.25 per hour, or applicable AEWR.
The payroll period shall be bi-weekly.
The employer will furnish, without charge, all tools, supplies and personal protective equipment required in the performance of the specified work.
Employer does not provide meals. Employer-provided housing includes free and convenient
kitchen facilities with appropriate equipment, appliances, cooking accessories, and
dishwashing facilities for meal preparation. For workers residing in employer-provided housing,
employer also provides free transportation once per week to/from closest town or city for
personal errands (e.g., groceries, banking services). Dining, kitchen/cooking facilities and other
common areas are shared by all workers. In the event that kitchen facilities become
unavailable during the contract period, employer will provide three daily meals in accordance
with 20 CFR 655.122(9). In such circumstances, employer will deduct the cost of such meals
up to the maximum allowable amount published in the Federal Register, or as otherwise
approved by the U.S. Department of Labor $15.46 DAY.
Transportation costs to the job site for domestic workers from outside the local commuting distance of the job site will be reimbursed by the employer after 50% of the contract period. In order to comply with the FLSA, the employer will advance any amount owed prior to the first paycheck. Workers who do not complete 50% of the contract will have the advance deducted from their final paycheck.
Transportation costs from the job site to the workers home will be provided to those domestic workers that complete the entire contract period.
Employer guarantees to offer employment for the hourly equivalent of 3/4 or 75% of the workdays of the work contract beginning with the first day of work.
Full employment description of employer benefits is available from the employer.
CLOSING DATE/DEADLINE
Employer will accept referrals until July 11, 2024
HOW TO APPLY/REQUEST A REFERRAL
This employer has asked WorkSource to refer only fully qualified applicants for this job. If you would like to request a referral, please contact any WorkSource office for detailed instructions on how to apply.
Job ID:
WorkSource is an equal opportunity employer and provider of employment and training services. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to persons with disabilities.
In view of the statutorily established basic function of the ES as a no-fee labor exchange, that is, as a forum for bringing together employers and job seekers, neither the ETA nor the SWAs are guarantors of the accuracy or truthfulness of information contained on job orders submitted by employers. Nor does any job order accepted or recruited upon by the ES constitute a contractual job offer to which the ETA or a SWA is in any way a party.
Washington Relay Services: 711
Staff Special Instructions
Please follow the linkto the side by side checklist, Workers' rights trifold and a copy of the complete job order for inspection.