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THE ASTORIAN • THuRSdAy, ApRIl 29, 2021
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
publisher
DERRICK DePLEDGE
Editor
Founded in 1873
SHANNON ARLINT
Circulation Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN
production Manager
CARL EARL
Systems Manager
OUR VIEW
Time will tell on overtime rule
A
n overtime bill passed by
the Washington Legisla-
ture gives producers time
to adjust and protects them from
backpay lawsuits set in motion by a
recent state Supreme Court ruling.
Senate Bill 5172 applies to agri-
cultural producers — including
Pacific County cranberries, cattle,
dairy, vegetables, etc. — and likely
also will intersect with the county’s
much larger aquaculture industry.
Overtime is required for working
more than 55 hours a week starting
in January; more than 48 hours in
January 2023; and over 40 hours in
January 2024.
The bill — and similar legisla-
tion working its way through the
Oregon Legislature — is sure to
prompt dramatic changes in farm
labor in the Pacific Northwest.
Congress in 1938 established a
federal minimum wage and pro-
vided for overtime pay for work
over 40 hours. The act provided a
host of job classifications, includ-
ing farmworkers, that were exempt
from the overtime rule.
Washington lawmakers in 1959
adopted a similar provision into
state law.
In a case filed by two former
milkers from Yakima County, the
Supreme Court struck down the
exemption in a 5-4 decision last
Chinook Observer
New Washington state overtime legislation will probably have an impact on some Willapa
Bay oyster operations.
November. Left unclear by the
state ruling was whether it applied
just to dairies or all farms, or
whether those impacted could col-
lect three years in back wages as
made possible under a separate
state law.
A bill originally was introduced
to protect farmers from having to
retroactively pay overtime. It was
amended instead to require all
farmers to pay overtime.
After much wrangling and nego-
tiation, a bill was finally hammered
out that will require Washington
farmworkers be paid time-and-a-
half pay after 40 hours in a week
beginning in 2024. It also protects
farmers from those retroactive pay
lawsuits.
Much has changed since 1938.
If fairness were the only consid-
eration, it’s hard to argue against
paying farmworkers overtime.
But the economics of agricul-
ture have not changed. Farmers are
still price takers, not price mak-
ers, who cannot simply pass along
higher labor costs to consumers the
way retailers and manufacturers —
though limited by the impacts of
competition — do.
Oyster growers also must work
within the sometimes-narrow con-
fines of a commodity market, and
confront several other severe oper-
ational challenges, including lack
of good options for controlling
destructive burrowing shrimp.
Interestingly, although SB 5172
specifically includes “cultivation,
raising, harvesting and process-
ing of oysters,” it doesn’t mention
clams, which have become import-
ant products on Willapa Bay.
So, farmers will do whatever
they can to cut down on labor by
adopting more automation, differ-
ent cropping systems or by choos-
ing to produce less labor-intensive
crops.
No doubt some workers will
receive deserved overtime. But, in
the end, there may be fewer work-
ers receiving a paycheck.
Times change. Time will tell if
this legislation will produce the
benefits sponsors intend.
BuT THE ECONOMICS OF AGRICulTuRE HAVE NOT CHANGEd. FARMERS ARE STIll pRICE TAKERS,
NOT pRICE MAKERS, WHO CANNOT SIMply pASS AlONG HIGHER lABOR COSTS TO CONSuMERS THE
WAy RETAIlERS ANd MANuFACTuRERS — THOuGH lIMITEd By THE IMpACTS OF COMpETITION — dO.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
A responsibility
T
he election in Oregon is May 18. In Ore-
gon, we vote by mail. Registered voters
here in Clatsop County should see your bal-
lot shortly.
There are several small service, school,
college and transportation district board posi-
tions on the ballot.
Your county voter information booklet will
soon arrive in your mailbox. Your vote is very
important, and needed. Across the nation,
voter rights are under attack.
Voting is a responsibility as a citizen. I
may sound like your mother, but this is truly
important. Become informed by reading the
voter guide. Then vote.
BOB WESTERBERG
Astoria
Our most basic act
W
e will soon receive our voters’ pam-
phlet and ballot for this year’s spe-
cial election. This election chooses leaders for
our community college, local school districts,
port, water, health and fire districts, parks and
recreation and transportation services.
These folks will be responsible for lead-
ing our agencies in carrying out the services
we depend on every day. This is what citi-
zen-led government is all about. Read the vot-
ers’ pamphlet, make sure you’re a registered
voter, then vote.
Voting is our responsibility as citizens.
Ballots are due by Election Day May 18.
Ballots can be mailed, or dropped off at
seven convenient local election drop boxes
around the county. If you use a drop box, your
ballot must be in the box by 8 p.m. on Elec-
tion Day.
Voting is our most basic act of citizenship.
Not voting is giving up your voice.
REBECCA READ
Seaside
At liberty
A
n open letter to the Sunset Empire Park
and Recreation District Board of Direc-
tors: According to CNN, 45 mass shootings
have occurred in a month from March 16
through April 16.
On March 30, one of the songs being
played in the pool during the 10 a.m. swim
was “Pumped Up Kicks,” by Foster The
People.
Some of the lyrics go like this: “All the
other kids with the pumped up kicks/You
better run, better run, outrun my gun/… You
better run, better run, faster than my bullet.”
I sent two emails regarding this incident,
LETTERS WELCOME
Letters should be exclusive to The
Astorian. Letters should be fewer
than 250 words and must include the
writer’s name, address and phone
number. You will be contacted to
confirm authorship. All letters are
subject to editing for space, gram-
mar and factual accuracy. Only two
letters per writer are allowed each
month. Letters written in response
one to board president Katharine Parker
who, “thanked me for my feedback” and
told me to “have a great evening!” Is that
all the board president had to say about this
egregious situation?
The other email went to Justin Smith,
the pool manager. I am relieved to report
that Justin responded to my email, because
the music being played the next day was far
more appropriate.
However, the mere fact that the life-
guards are at liberty to even play this sort of
music, and I use the term “music” loosely,
needs to be addressed.
Once again, I ask the board to establish
strict guidelines as to the genre of music to
be played. Furthermore, the music should
to other letter writers should address
the issue at hand and should refer to
the headline and date the letter was
published. Discourse should be civil.
Send via email to editor@dailyasto-
rian.com, online at bit.ly/astorianlet-
ters, in person at 949 Exchange St.
in Astoria or mail to Letters to the
Editor, P.O. Box 210, Astoria, OR.,
97103.
be appropriate for those who are using the
pool.
I don’t think “Highway to Hell” by AC/
DC is an appropriate selection for any audi-
ence, especially the morning arthritis class
being held in the therapy pool.
MARTI WAJC
Seaside
Octogenarian wisdom
here is a statement in the film “O Brother,
Where Art Thou” that says, “That don’t
make no sense.” I’d like to apply that to this
letter.
I feel it applies to the restrictions that we
T
face every day due to COVID-19, and though
many don’t want to state their feeling on this,
I do. I’m too old to care.
Virtual Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival:
Why? The main reason for the crab fest is to
eat crab and drink wine. Virtual? Extra money
the chamber of commerce doesn’t know what
to do with? We have been watching the many
small projects that the city and various orga-
nizations have been pushing. You can name
those.
And here sits Shively Park — a beauti-
ful place in its heyday, in the 1911 100-year
celebration. Look it up on the internet, if you
would. Beautiful.
Twelve acres, neglected and overgrown
with trees and bushes. Enough room where
you could put all the tributes to the people
who contributed to make Astoria great.
An amphitheater which was once beautiful
and useful, gone to waste. I would ask why
someone younger than me doesn’t start this
project? You could, you know.
The Astorian: I love our local news. I
applaud The Astorian for this. Don’t for-
get these small businesses. I have noted the
lack of advertising during COVID-19. That
is bound to affect their small business income
and loss statement.
We should support them, as well as others
— the small business is the heart of America.
Thank them all.
DeLORES MAY RICHARDS
Astoria