Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik released the following statement as the New York Farm Laborers Wage Board moves forward with their devastating recommendation to lower the overtime threshold from 60 hours to 40 hours.
“Kathy Hochul’s Farm Laborers Wage Board failed to support our hardworking farmers. Instead, these Democrats in Albany are doubling down on their reckless overtime decision, jeopardizing New York’s agriculture industry, putting thousands of farm laborers out of work, and making New York less competitive by forcing our workers to seek labor opportunities in neighboring states, all while in the midst of a labor shortage. They are unmistakably out-of-touch with Upstate New York and the North Country. Make no mistake, I will continue to challenge this wrongful decision and stand up for our farms because Upstate New York understands: No farms, no food.”
Stefanik has opposed the Farm Laborers Wage Board Decision and previously sent a letter to the Wage Board to postpone any consideration of reducing the overtime threshold for farmworkers. In February, Stefanik led the charge and called on Governor Kathy Hochul urging her to reject the New York State Farm Laborers Wage Board’s decision to lower the overtime wage threshold.
