Old Glory Radio

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• Mac // Sep 3, 2008 at 9:10 pm

  Well, I happened across all this info because I was looking for updated Sun Valley info – I worked there for a number of years. I grew up on a family farm in the mid-west. My wife got a nursing job at a local hospital and I thought the climate was great. I became a manager and helped hire many of the workers for day, night, high and low seasons. I never had a final say, but I got to interview and put my 2-cents in on any new hires that may go to my areas. I worked with and managed many Hispanic workers, along with those from Japan, the Netherlands, Africans and many white and non-white folks born in the USA. I can tell you that it was a complicated issue, since I’m no expert – I learned that if the documentation looks and appears to be legal and valid, you cannot deny employment. Obviously, many of those documents turned out to be false and/or had been fabricated, but you could not tell upon the initial hiring process. I worked hard, everyone who stayed worked hard. It’s VERY hard work. Many people, especially local adults (not so much the younger groups) didn’t last one day on the job. I saw almost 100 people walk off the job during the peak season work flow from what were easy jobs over the course of the years I worked there. I was very confused on their work ethics – and still am to this day. Many would hide during breaks, show up late and just goof around (this was mostly locals, however many people who came in from an hour plus drive did the same). It’s a farm, not a country club. It’s not a store where you can chat with customers all day and sell few things here and there – you must move, lift, work and be safe. You can make a good living and many who worked there did. I met many Hispanics and non-Hispanics (I’m not sure whether they were legal or not) who had worked there many years, making much more then minimum wage (although most START at min. wage) who paid taxes, bought homes, bought from local stores and supported the local economy. There are 2 types of labor laws that apply on a farm like this – a 40 hour/8 hour day and a 60 hour/10 hour day labor laws. I never saw any violations of laws and EVERYONE – including me got paid overtime if and when we worked it. Peak season is up and down over a 6-month period, so it doesn’t happen a lot, but it was good to get it, because you really worked for it. I was treated well by all – I believe because I treated them all with equal respect. Yes, there were bad apples, like every company. I saw drugs and I saw the people get paid $1000 reward (many times) for turning in those people drunk or on drugs. I never turned anyone in since I never caught anyone, but like a couple on this thread / rant state – they have a heavy safety program with rewards for safety, innovative ideas and quality work – acknowledged and paid out and publicly announced every 4 weeks. Those who write about the place never worked there or have heard only the bad…or only the good. It’s just a company that grows flowers. Work hard and get rewarded. Screw around and get fired. As for those who couldn’t pass the mandatory drug test – too bad. I wouldn’t want them around me anyhow. As for those who think they were slaves, I saw many quit, like anywhere if they felt they weren’t paid enough and left for another job. It’s a free market and many people were paid well (all races) because they negotiated their pay before they started based on prior experience – from Mexico….or like me from the heartland. I saw favoritisms and I saw good and bad managers as well, like any other company. Not every job is for every person. Farming is hard work. If you want to sit on your ass, it’s not the place for you. If you want to show up late, stoned, hung over or with a poor attitude, it’s not / wasn’t the place for you. If you are a hard worker and can PROVE yourself – it sounds like there’s a lot of new jobs there. Personally, I moved back because my wife got a great job in another state. I have NO regrets. I can tell you that while the owner is rich, he’s a pretty fair guy. Not always, but most of the time. No one was in chains. Anyone who wants a job and is “clean” (hard to find in Humboldt by the way…) can apply there anytime – sounds like especially now. Don’t knock it till you tried it. Until you’ve worked a hard day for a good company – that has good and bad points like any other – I wouldn’t go around accusing anyone…unless you have proof. Not just your mouth or your opinion, but some hard facts. Yes, again – they let go of a lot of people. Obviously, they had some problems, some very big. But how much was just them hiring according to the law vs. when they were told to do something about it and then did just that – letting hundreds of hard working, tax paying people go. If they were illegal (I haven’t seen any proof – other then what people have “stated”) either on here or in the papers, but I can tell you a lot of people, especially Humboldt County and the State of California got a lot of tax money and the local economy did pretty well from what I understand to be / was the larges private employer in the county. Who to blame for the problems…probably many people from different groups – I’m not really sure. A lot of good people are just that, good people, worked there and still work there today. So, please post some links to prove all the slave trade, pesticide talk, non-organic – labeled as organic, etc here that must be legal public record SOMEWHERE to state otherwise. If I were back in Arcata and had the chance, I’d go back there in a heartbeat. If you are local, maybe you should go there yourself and get a job, work hard and join an above-average company. I’ve worked harder, for less in other company that didn’t give a squat about anyone. I was just a number. At least there, everyone said hello and knew my name. I shared many a meal and had many a laughs during my breaks and after hours with my former co-workers. I know it’s tough times for them now, but go there and try it…you many just like it.

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