2,100 workers slashed from Bakersfield farming facility
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A Central Valley grower is laying off more than 2,100 local employees.
Sun Pacific is trimming its seasonal workforce in its table grapes and kiwi operations, according to Chief Financial Officer Toby Maitland-Lewis.
"In total, the amount of producing acres farmed and harvested by Sun Pacific has declined by over 30% in recent years as we are redeveloping our table grape program in the face of changing market conditions and competitive influences," Maitland-Lewis wrote Eyewitness News in a statement.
"In simple terms, that means that the amount of work we can offer our employees is down 30%."
But, United Farm Workers national vice president Armando Elenes isn't buying it.
"If that was the case, then they would recall 33% less workers," he told Eyewitness News on Tuesday. He notes the employees have worked for Sun Pacific on a seasonal basis. They're called back to work as-needed, they're not working on a year-round basis.
Elenes says that as company employees -- even seasonal -- the workers got benefits from Sun Pacific. He complains that won't happen with contractors
"A lot of the labor contractors, unfortunately, don't pay any benefits," Elenes said.
Maitland-Lewis told Eyewitness News the seasonal workers did get medical coverage, based on the number of hours they worked in a given month.
Some workers also got pension or retirement benefits. Maitland-Lewis said those benefits will be preserved for long-time employees.
Elenes notes the workers are not covered by any union, but still the UFW has heard from some of them.
"Some employees want to know what their options are," Elenes said. "Unfortunately, their options are limited."
The Sun Pacific spokesman said the company relied on labor contractors for approximately 70% of these workers in 2011, according to his statement.
According to the company's official notice filed with Kern County, Sun Pacific will lay off 16 seasonal crew bosses, four seasonal time and attendance clerks, one seasonal sanitation/housing worker, and 2,108 seasonal laborers.
The layoffs will be effective in mid-March.
Almost exactly a year ago, another company -- Sun World -- laid off farm workers. The number was as many as 600. Some of those employees staged protested outside that company.
Is moving to labor contractors a trend that's being seen?
"Generally, we are to some degree," human relations consultant Holly Culhane told Eyewitness News. "It's not really as popular in the Kern County market."
Culhane's P.A.S. Associates advises company on labor issues. She said businesses may have less paperwork, less overhead, less liability if they get their workforce from another company.
"Part of it's the economy, part of it's the regulatory environment," she said.
Sun Pacific's statement said by getting their workforce from contractors will "allow our farm managers better flexibility to manage their operations."
The company said the change will also benefit the workers.
If the employees work through a labor contractor they can "..pursue other employment opportunities -- opportunities that Sun Pacific cannot guarantee to match," the statement said.
Sun Pacific started its operations in 1977 in Tulare County, according to its website, which lists its main sales office in Pasadena.
The Bakersfield facility, established in 1989, has more than 60,000 square feet of packing space and 140,000 square feet of cooling area, the company says.
Maitland-Lewis told Eyewitness News the layoffs will not affect the citrus operations, and a permanent company workforce of about 400 will remain.
Still, the UFW spokesman is skeptical of the company's action.
"The reality is they're getting rid of the employees so they can cut down costs," Armando Elenes said. "So they can keep more money in their pockets.:
Sun Pacific is trimming its seasonal workforce in its table grapes and kiwi operations, according to Chief Financial Officer Toby Maitland-Lewis.
"In total, the amount of producing acres farmed and harvested by Sun Pacific has declined by over 30% in recent years as we are redeveloping our table grape program in the face of changing market conditions and competitive influences," Maitland-Lewis wrote Eyewitness News in a statement.
"In simple terms, that means that the amount of work we can offer our employees is down 30%."
But, United Farm Workers national vice president Armando Elenes isn't buying it.
"If that was the case, then they would recall 33% less workers," he told Eyewitness News on Tuesday. He notes the employees have worked for Sun Pacific on a seasonal basis. They're called back to work as-needed, they're not working on a year-round basis.
Elenes says that as company employees -- even seasonal -- the workers got benefits from Sun Pacific. He complains that won't happen with contractors
"A lot of the labor contractors, unfortunately, don't pay any benefits," Elenes said.
Maitland-Lewis told Eyewitness News the seasonal workers did get medical coverage, based on the number of hours they worked in a given month.
Some workers also got pension or retirement benefits. Maitland-Lewis said those benefits will be preserved for long-time employees.
Elenes notes the workers are not covered by any union, but still the UFW has heard from some of them.
"Some employees want to know what their options are," Elenes said. "Unfortunately, their options are limited."
The Sun Pacific spokesman said the company relied on labor contractors for approximately 70% of these workers in 2011, according to his statement.
According to the company's official notice filed with Kern County, Sun Pacific will lay off 16 seasonal crew bosses, four seasonal time and attendance clerks, one seasonal sanitation/housing worker, and 2,108 seasonal laborers.
The layoffs will be effective in mid-March.
Almost exactly a year ago, another company -- Sun World -- laid off farm workers. The number was as many as 600. Some of those employees staged protested outside that company.
Is moving to labor contractors a trend that's being seen?
"Generally, we are to some degree," human relations consultant Holly Culhane told Eyewitness News. "It's not really as popular in the Kern County market."
Culhane's P.A.S. Associates advises company on labor issues. She said businesses may have less paperwork, less overhead, less liability if they get their workforce from another company.
"Part of it's the economy, part of it's the regulatory environment," she said.
Sun Pacific's statement said by getting their workforce from contractors will "allow our farm managers better flexibility to manage their operations."
The company said the change will also benefit the workers.
If the employees work through a labor contractor they can "..pursue other employment opportunities -- opportunities that Sun Pacific cannot guarantee to match," the statement said.
Sun Pacific started its operations in 1977 in Tulare County, according to its website, which lists its main sales office in Pasadena.
The Bakersfield facility, established in 1989, has more than 60,000 square feet of packing space and 140,000 square feet of cooling area, the company says.
Maitland-Lewis told Eyewitness News the layoffs will not affect the citrus operations, and a permanent company workforce of about 400 will remain.
Still, the UFW spokesman is skeptical of the company's action.
"The reality is they're getting rid of the employees so they can cut down costs," Armando Elenes said. "So they can keep more money in their pockets.:
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