Transparency of labor conditions for seasonal workers in the California wine industry
Gaddis, Jonathan (2017)
Gaddis, Jonathan
Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu
2017
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2017120419485
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2017120419485
Tiivistelmä
The topic of this paper is focused on the issue of transparency in subcontracting migrant workers during the harvesting of grapes for the production of wine by wineries and vineyards in the Californian wine industry. The paper examines issues that subcontracted laborers face within the industry, consumer expectations for transparency, sustainable certification, and the effect of the labor environment on a vineyard or wineries business model. The paper finds that the California wine industry can increase transparency by developing and adapting their business models in response to the changing labor environment. The change and adaptation is likely to take different forms, such as implementing year round employment structures, increased amounts of mechanical harvesting, closer oversight and integration of farm labor contractors, and by adopting rigorous certification programs, such as SIP Certified.