Overreaching Department of Labor Rule Halted Nationwide

AFBF and other industry coalition members achieved a crucial win yesterday that will help farmers across the country. AFBF and its partners were granted a preliminary injunction by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi barring the Department of Labor (DOL) from enforcing its Worker Protection Rule extending unionization rights to H-2A visaholders.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the litigation and the district court’s nationwide injunction barring DOL’s rule:

“Farmers appreciate the dedicated men and women who choose to work on their farms, and they take seriously the responsibility of ensuring a safe workplace. Farm Bureau agrees that workers should be treated fairly and respectfully. We also believe fairness to farmers is important and the DOL rule was overly broad to the point of being unlawful.

We appreciate that the court recognized the overreach of the rule. We urge the DOL to go back to the drawing board and engage with H-2A employers to better understand the impact more regulations will have on the men and women who work to ensure America’s families have food on the table.”

Two other courts previously blocked the rule in several states and for certain groups, but AFBF’s lawsuit was the first to stop key aspects of the rule for all farmers nationwide.

Read the full stay order here.