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Farmworker Overtime Bill Delayed

Photo used under Creative Commons from Andy Patterson / Modern Relics
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/modernrelics/4461010654/

Widely-watched, heavily-lobbied legislation that would allow California farm workers to receive overtime pay more quickly did not come up for a vote Thursday, as it was expected to. Ben Bradford reports from Sacramento that led to a renewed pledge that it will pass from the Assembly Speaker.

When the Assembly adjourned and it became clear the bill would not come up, farm workers who’d rallied at the Capitol lined up outside Speaker Anthony Rendon’s door, until he came out.

Rendon: "We did not take a vote today. We will take a vote next week. I will do everything in my power to make sure this passes next week."

The bill is a favorite of labor unions and would require farm workers to receive overtime pay after an eight-hour day or 40 hour work-week. The agriculture industry argues it’s too costly and will just mean hiring more workers for shorter spells.

The fact the bill was held suggests it may not yet have enough support in the Assembly, where another version died earlier this year.