United Spinal Association Jobs

This job was posted by https://www.vermontjoblink.com : For more information, please see: https://www.vermontjoblink.com/jobs/1246442

Workers will perform summer cultivation work and fall harvest in a vineyard as well as work in a sweet potato harvest in the fall. See addendum more details.

Sweet Potato: Workers will walk along rows as specified by employer and remove weeds and grass from fields by hand or using a hoe. Cultivate sweet potato. Load and unload farm products and materials. Perform farm, field and shed sanitation duties. Mow grass and operate trimmer around farm buildings. May operate and perform minor maintenance on farm vehicles or equipment. May drive farm truck, tractor, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on the farm if properly trained and licensed. Prolonged walking, standing, bending, stooping, and reaching are required. Job is outdoors and continues in all types of weather. Must be able to lift 50 lbs. to shoulder height repetitively throughout the workday and able to lift and carry 50 lbs. in field. May have to install and adjust irrigation equipment. Must not hinder another worker\'s productivity. Use of personal cell phone or other personal electronic device during working hours strictly prohibited except for work-related calls or emergencies and violation may result in immediate termination. Must commit to work entire contract period. Sweet potatoes: Sweet potato plant pullers will stoop, break vines, remove plastic mulch and drip tape, bend and kneel to pull sweet potato plants from beds, exercising care in selecting plants of appropriate size as specified by supervisor. Selected plants will be boxed in an orderly fashion in field crates and crates windrowed and loaded on wagons, carts or trailers for transport. May ride mechanical transplanter, harvester and plastic mulcher machine. May walk behind transplanter to harvest missed product. Sweet potato harvest workers will walk along row that has been previously plowed. Workers will stoop, bend and kneel to pick up sweet potatoes using hands and fingers to dig out unexposed potatoes. Workers may grade in the field separating different sizes into appropriate bins. Damaged or diseased potatoes will not be harvested. Worker will be required to stay on assigned row. Full hampers weighing up 35 lbs. will be carried to truck row to be loaded onto truck or trailer. Workers may be required to ride mechanical harvester. Workers may be asked to wash and pack sweet potatoes for shipment. Workers may be required to perform other duties as required by the employer.

The following description of job activities applies to vineyards: Pruning: While pruning vines or canes, workers will receive proper tools for the particular job, i.e., saw, pruners, chain saws, loppers, and hand snips. These tools will be returned to the employer at the end of the task. Workers will be assigned rows of vines and must prune vines and canes according to the size of the vine and the need for the pruning. Workers must take care not to damage vines that are not being pruned. Workers must prune vines according to the above reference requirements. All workers must be able to lift and carry ladder, as well as work from the top of the ladder. Workers must remove all resulting materials from the vines rendered from performing pruning tasks. When pruning is complete on each vine, each worker is required to rake and scatter the resulting brush in the center of the tractor/equipment middles. Workers will be required to pick up and return ladders to the designated location as provided by the grower at the end of each workday or as directed by the grower or designated supervisor. BROKEN LADDERS SHOULD NOT BE USED, NOTIFY SUPERVISOR IMMEDIATELY IF A LADDER IS BROKEN. Equipment Operation: Worker may operate tractors, forklift, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery for land preparation, maintenance, and cultivation, including to plow, harrow and fertilize soil and plants, and to plant, cultivate, and spray. Worker may operate equipment used in agricultural production, such as tractors and implements. Worker may manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery. Worker may attach farm implements such as plows, discs, sprayers, and harvesters to tractors, using bolts and hand tools. Worker may load containers and products using forklifts. Worker may operate grading and digging equipment. Properly licensed drivers may be asked to drive the other workers to and from the housing and the jobsites. Farm, Field, Shed, Warehouse and Storage Sanitation: All workers will be responsible for picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms, sweeping floors and other sanitation duties. Perform miscellaneous job related duties as assigned. The farm owner/supervisor or a designated employee will provide specific instructions to other workers. The workers in this petition are in no manner considered supervisors nor have supervisor duties. Workers will be expected to perform their duties in a timely and proficient manner and will be supervised to insure adherence to instruction. Work will be closely monitored for quality.

Vineyard: Workers involved in vineyard maintenance may be required to hoe vines, girdle, spread fertilizer, pick up roots and limbs, strip suckers or unwanted growth from vines, dig root suckers, knock or trim fruit off vines, remove vines, lay irrigation pipe, repair and maintain drip system, and strap and tie vines.