Strawberry pickers settle a strike in the south county. Pickers went on strike at West Coast Berry Farms in Nipomo. They said their wages didn’t cover the cost of rent, food, gas and childcare.
Before the job action, the workers received $2 per strawberry tray. A spokesperson for West Coast Farms says at that rate, during peak season strawberry pickers make $20-36 dollars per hour.
Workers on strike demanded a $14 hourly wage in addition to $1.25 per tray.
The berry farm says they cannot raise the pay above $2.40 per tray to remain profitable. The strike ended last Friday when the workers accepted that new wage.
One union official called it a small win. Not what the workers expected.
