Employers using foreign workers under the H2A program are required to pay a wage at least equal to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR). This wage rate is currently $13.03/hr in the state of Texas. The Texas AEWR will increase to $13.88/hr on December 29, 2021. All H2A employees must be paid a minimum wage [...]
Two gins on the Gulf Coast were visited by Department of Labor Wage and Hour inspectors during this season. In addition, two gins have been inspected in West Texas this week. There is a good chance more gins will be inspected in West Texas. If any W&H inspectors have contacted your gin, please let us [...]
We have been getting a lot of questions about H-2A workers recently. In addition, we are in the process of wrapping up two Wage and Hour Inspections from earlier in this ginning season. It still remains to be seen whether the inspectors will show up in West Texas, but if they do, it is important [...]
As we reported earlier, lawsuits challenging the OSHA Covid Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) have been filed all over the country. The ETS is currently being stayed due to a ruling from the 5th Circuit Court (New Orleans). Earlier this week, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation assigned all the ETS litigation to the 6th Circuit [...]
TCGA member gins have experienced several significant accidents in the past few days. In response, the trust has issued a safety alert in English and Spanish. Please click the links to access these alerts. It is critical that we continue to emphasize lockout/tagout to our workers, and to be sure they are implementing it while [...]
The Ginners’ Trust wants to remind everyone to encourage safety as the season starts. We have already seen three severe, reportable accidents in West Texas gins as the season gets started: An employee struck by a loader carrying a module to the feeder resulting in head injury; An employee caught in the battery condenser resulting [...]
On Friday night, a three-judge panel extended the stay of the Covid Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). The next step will be for the courts to consolidate all the different suits that have been filed all over the country, and decide which court will hear all of the consolidated cases. If the cases are consolidated into [...]
As you have heard, OSHA released its Covid Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) last Friday. On Saturday, a “Stay” was issued by the 5th District Court in New Orleans. Briefs have been delivered by the government and the petitioners and a decision may be made on the stay this week. Multiple other suits have been filed [...]
OSHA issued their Covid Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for general industry on Friday, and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has already granted an emergency stay. This case will be put on a fast track, and there may be other cases challenging the rule. Even though the rule is "on pause" for not, it is [...]
Texas Cotton Ginners' Trust has issued a new safety alert, and has asked us to pass it along to you all. Please review the information below. In addition, if you would like to have the Pdf version of these alerts, please click here. OFF-SEASON WORK : OUTSIDE THE NORMAL Repair and re-build and [...]
