H-2A Wage Rule Litigation | Case Resources

United Farm Workers, et al. v. U.S. Department of Labor, et al. is a case pending before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California that challenges a Department of Labor (DOL) rule governing how the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) is calculated under the H-2A temporary agricultural guestworker program.

The case has drawn close attention from the agricultural and business community because the outcome could affect access to labor and safe, affordable, domestically grown food for American families. In January 2026, the NC Chamber, in partnership with more than 25 agricultural organizations from across the country, filed an amicus brief urging the court to reject the Plaintiffs’ request, warning that the lawsuit seeks to block DOL’s rule nationwide and force the agency to abandon its existing wage framework in favor of an undefined new approach that could create significant uncertainty for agricultural employers nationwide and disrupt planning for the 2026 growing season.

Relevant case materials and filings are linked below.