Opinion ID: 422084
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: ) Dockage

Text: 31 Stokely listed a requirement on all of its farm-hand clearance orders that asparagus pickers had to hand snap asparagus in the field to a specific height. See, e.g., Defendants' Ex. 6. Stokely enforces this requirement through a dockage policy which reduces the Farmworkers' pay by a percentage varying in accordance with the amount of nonconforming asparagus picked (by Stokely's specifications). 12 The appellants contend that the statement of the dockage requirement, as quoted above, was adequate compliance with FLCRA's obligation to disclose fully the wage rates which the workers would receive. Appellants also believe that the Farmworkers had actual notice of the dockage policy because a high percentage of the Farmworkers had worked for Stokely in previous years. 32 We find that the district court's conclusion that Stokely's statement was not adequate notice of wage rates was not clearly erroneous. The statement to snap asparagus ... to specified height does not adequately describe the operation of Stokely's dockage policy and its potential effect upon the workers' wages. Appellants' alternative claim of actual notice from prior experience was considered and rejected by the district court. Not only does the record contain adequate evidence to support a finding that many of the Farmworkers did not know of the policy, but even if some had been aware of the policy, appellants' obligation to disclose wage rates in writing would not have been satisfied.