Two Cayuga County state assemblymen, who both operate farms, join Assembly Republicans to oppose lowering the overtime threshold for farm workers.
Assemblyman John Lemondes operates a sheep farm in Onondaga County, while Assemblyman Brian Manktelow owns a crop farm in Wayne County, according to The Citizen. Both men have joined in the calls for Governor Kathy Hochul to reject a wage board’s recommendation to lower the overtime threshold for farm workers from 60 to 40 hours.
Lemondes warned of consequences should the new overtime law be adopted.
“The overtime threshold must be reset for the sake of those operating our farms,” said Lemondes. “Otherwise, our producers may flee the state in droves.”
Supporters of the proposal say new overtime rules for farm workers would give farm workers the same right to overtime pay as seen in other industries.
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