VASCM: Illegal Use of Volunteers in Your For-Profit Winery or Vineyard Risks a Steep Fine - Winery Closes its Doors

[Mary Lindsay, Muns Vineyard]

In case you are not already aware, it is illegal for for-profit 
businesses, including wineries and vineyards, from using volunteers. 
This article is about a small winery in Castro Valley that has been 
fined over $100,000 for allowing volunteers to help in the winery, and 
has been forced as a result to close its doors. Some of these volunteers 
were part of a class from a local college.  The winery was cited for not 
paying minimum wage, not providing wage statements and not paying 
workers' compensation insurance. According to the Labor Relations Board 
representative,  "These are not idle things. People should be paid for 
their labor. The workers' compensation violations are very serious. What 
happens if someone has a catastrophic injury at the winery?" And, he 
added, "It isn't fair to wineries that are paying their employees to 
have to compete against for-profit wineries that do not."

The Wine Institute encourages members to 'reconsider' their use of 
volunteers.

As the article points out, the wine business has for years depended on 
and encouraged volunteers, and volunteers consider it an opportunity to 
learn - so this is a shock.

Mary Lindsay
Muns Vineyard
408-234-2079
www.munsvineyard.com

http://www.mercurynews.com/my-town/ci_26541167/castro-valley-winery-fined-115-000-using-volunteers#top