In this Nov. 4, 2020 file photo, the Supreme Court is seen in Washington. WASHINGTON: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sided with California agriculture businesses in their challenge to a state regulation that gives unions access to farm property in order to organize workers. As a result of the ruling, California will have to modify or abandon the regulation put in place in 1975 after the efforts of labour leader Cesar Chavez.
At issue was a regulation that granted unions access to farms and other agriculture businesses for up to three hours per day, 120 days per year, in order to organize workers. Businesses are supposed to be notified before organizers arrive, and organizers are supposed to come during non-work times such as lunch and before and after work.
The access regulation is unique to California. But unions and others had argued that ruling for the businesses could threaten regulations that allow government to access private property to conduct workplace health and safety inspections, among other things.The ruling is the latest hit to unions by the court under Roberts.