Opponent Remains Silent on OT Threshold Issue
(BINGHAMTON, NY) — New York State Senate District 52 Candidate Rich David today reiterated his total support for our hardworking family farmers in anticipation of another crushing Albany mandate expected to pass this week. Meanwhile, candidate David’s opponent remained silent on the issue — even though the Farm Labor Wage Board final determination on the state Department of Labor’s proposal to lower the overtime threshold from 60 to 40 hours comes this Tuesday — and the future of New York agriculture hangs in the balance.
“Since the start of our campaign, I have heard from countless family farmers and farm laborers that this new potential mandate from Albany will crush agriculture in our state. There’s no doubt that a lower overtime threshold will shut down numerous family farms in Tompkins, Cortland and Broome counties. Our campaign proudly stands with the members of our agriculture community opposed to this plan. The fact that my opponent doesn’t even have a listed position on Albany’s “Farm Death Bill” speaks volumes about her priorities,” said Rich David.
Senate District 52 candidate Rich David has for months been a vocal opponent of the proposed reduction to the overtime threshold from 60 hours to 40 hours — which is a direct result of the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act (FLFPA) passed by One Party Rule in Albany. David’s opponent — who plans to caucus with the same downstate legislators who passed the FLFPA in 2019 — has notably stayed silent on the issue.
Numerous economic development and business organizations have come out in opposition to the proposed Albany mandate on our family farms because it will lead to increased costs, layoffs and business closures. These groups include the Grow NY Farms Coalition, the Business Council of New York State, the National Federation of Independent Businesses of New York (NFIB) and Upstate United.
“Farmers and their families deserve to know where my opponent stands on this issue. Either there’s a complete lack of understanding about our agriculture community or once again, downstate interests continue to prevail,” David concluded.
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