Many businesses have chosen to classify some on their payrolls as “independent contractors” instead of traditional employees. The distinction is...
SAF Explains New Federal Overtime Pay Regulations
Starting January 1, 2020, a new Department of Labor rule will make 1.3 million American workers eligible for overtime pay. What does the rule mean...
Labor Issues May Become Prominent in 2019
After two years of little action on labor issues in Washington with Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress and President Trump in the...
Tariffs Take Effect on Floral Containers from China
This week President Trump implemented the latest round of tariffs on imports from China, including floral containers and other packaging materials,...
Wage Increases Mandated For H-2A Workers
On December 26, 2018, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the US Department of Labor (DOL) published a notice which mandated new...
Labor Leaders Predict Postponement of United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
Hopes were high coming into November that the Trump Administration and House Democrats would strike a deal on the renegotiated NAFTA, or United...
Senate Committee Backs Funding for FNRI, Floriculture Crops Report
The powerful Senate Appropriations Committee has signaled its support for two core issues backed by the Society of American Florists: increased...
SAF Continues To Grow Industry’s Influence in Washington
SAF participated in an event to support a key member of Congress with a family background in the floriculture industry, Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI)....
For Growers, Outstanding Varieties Provides Opportunity to Stand Apart
Toward the end of 2018, Juan David Lecuona began fielding hundreds of queries from industry members hungry for more information on ‘Alma’— a bright...
SAF Extends Influence of Floriculture In Washington
As the voice of the floral industry, SAF recently attended events in support of Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith R-MS) and Representative Julia Brownley...
Executive Order Builds Momentum for Streamlined Biotech Regulations
President Trump signed an executive order this week in Iowa intended to streamline the regulatory process for genetically engineered agriculture....
SAF Offers Suggestions to Department of Labor on Proposed Overtime Rule
As noted previously in Week In Review, the Trump Administration proposed new overtime regulations. Although not nearly as burdensome as the rule...
U.S. Threatens Tariffs on All Goods from Mexico Starting Monday
In an effort to push Mexico to take steps to stem the surging tide in immigration across the U.S.-Mexico border, President Trump recently announced...
Federal Court Strikes Down Association Health Plans Rule
In a March 28, 2019 decision, a federal judge blocked a Trump Administration rule that would allow formation of Association Health Plans (AHPs). The...
Commercial Floriculture Survey: Responses Needed
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will mail the Commercial Floriculture Survey to growers this week —...