72nd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2003 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 3418
 
                         House Bill 3369
 
Sponsored by COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Revises definitions and policy related to picketing of
agricultural production sites.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to picketing; amending ORS 662.805 and 662.810.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1. ORS 662.805 is amended to read:
  662.805. As used in ORS 662.805 to 662.825, unless the context
requires otherwise:
  (1) 'Perishable agricultural crops' means { + :
  (a) + } Those products of agriculture   { - which - }
 { + that, + } because of their inherent qualities or dependence
upon conditions of soil or weather, mature, decompose, decay or
deteriorate and in so doing undergo material changes of form and
quality   { - which - }   { + that + } render them unsuitable for
the use for which they were produced { + ; or
  (b) Those products of agriculture the value of which depends
upon timely harvest and shipping to satisfy predictable and known
marketplace expectations + }.
  (2) 'Labor dispute' includes any controversy between an
employer and a regular employee of that employer concerning terms
or conditions of employment, or concerning the association or
representation of persons in negotiating, fixing, maintaining,
changing or seeking to arrange terms or conditions of employment.
  (3) 'Regular employee' means a person who has been employed by
the employer for at least   { - six - }   { + 30 + } calendar
work days { +  within the previous 12 months + }.
  SECTION 2. ORS 662.810 is amended to read:
  662.810. (1) The Legislative Assembly recognizes and declares
that agriculture is of great importance to the economy of the
state and to the well-being of its citizens. Because of the
perishable nature of agricultural crops, they must be harvested
at the proper stage of maturity, and if this harvest is
interfered with the crop may become a total loss with a resulting
waste or loss of food, adverse effect upon consumer prices, loss
of employment to agricultural laborers and severe dislocation of
the entire economy of the state. The picketing of farms, ranches
or orchards at such times as would prevent the planting { + , + }
 { - or - } harvesting  { + or shipping + } of such crops
directly affects the public welfare and requires regulation by
the state in the exercise of its police power.
  (2) Nothing in ORS 662.805 to 662.825 shall be construed to
prohibit any right of employees to organize and bargain
collectively with their employers.
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