UPDATE from Teamsters 117 (July 27, 2021) — Approximately 170 lab and production workers who work out of Darigold processing plants in Seattle and Issaquah will participate in a “Just Practicing” picketing action on Tuesday and Wednesday, protesting the company’s refusal to bargain in good faith. Teamsters Local 117 General Counsel Tracey Thompson and Darigold workers will address the media at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the Darigold Issaquah facility, 611 Front St N. in Issaquah. The National Labor Relations Board is investigating the Unfair Labor Practice charges the union has filed over Darigold’s bad-faith bargaining. Teamsters at Darigold overwhelmingly approved a final strike vote on July 18.

“Darigold needs to return to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair contract in good-faith that our members can ratify,” said John Scearcy, Teamsters 117 Secretary-Treasurer.

Teamsters Local 117 represents roughly 260 workers at Darigold servicing Costco and Walmart stores across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. For more information, please visit www.DarigoldIsMalicious.org.

Darigold is Malicious: Urge them to bargain in good faith

TUKWILA, Wash. (July 23, 2021) — Teamsters Local 117 members who work at Darigold’s laboratory and production facilities in Seattle and Issaquah voted last weekend to authorize a strike. Their union has been in contract negotiations with Darigold since April, and members have been working without a contract since the end of May. With their final approval to strike, they could establish picket lines at any time.

TAKE A STAND — Please sign this petition in support of these Darigold workers.

Teamsters Local 117 reports that, in these contract talks Darigold is Malicious:

BAD FAITH BARGAINING — Darigold is not bargaining in good faith. We believe the company violated federal labor law in contract negotiations when it retracted an across-the-board wage increase proposal, then proposed cutting wages for many of its employees.

HIGHER HEALTH CARE COSTS — During the pandemic, Darigold denied medical leave (state’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave law) to members with serious health conditions; now Darigold wants to increase the out-of-pocket health care costs for these essential workers.

OUTSOURCING — Darigold wants to displace experienced, local workers in our community. This has led to the needless dumping of thousands of gallons of dairy products.

NO RESPECT — Darigold has praised workers as essential during the pandemic but is unwilling to make proposals that recognize the sacrifices these workers have made for all of us.

Learn more at www.DarigoldIsMalicious.org.