Stand with UFW mushroom workers

Join United Farm Workers for a solidarity action with mushroom workers fighting for union representation and respect 

BURIEN, WA (December 13, 2024) — Mushroom workers organizing with the United Farm Workers (UFW) are escalating their fight for union representation and fair treatment at Windmill Farms after more than two years of organizing. Workers, advocates, and supporters will gather in Burien on Thursday, December 19th to announce next steps in their campaign.

The workers, based in the Yakima Valley, began seeking a union contract in the summer of 2022, in response to widespread firings and ongoing concerns over safety, discrimination, and retaliation. Workers were galvanized to unionize after over a hundred women were fired when they reported harassment to HR. The company then hired male H2A workers in their place, while harassment and poor treatment from management continued. After a successful lawsuit won the women back their jobs, Ostrom Farms sold to the current owner, Windmill Farms.  

Mushroom workers and supporters rallying in Seattle in 2023. Photo: WSLC

The workers have kept up their organizing drive, continuing to pressure the employer to stop stalling and bargain with the workers. But they face roadblocks. Farm workers are excluded from many federal and state labor laws, including the ability to form a union through card-check or election. That means that despite majority support at Windmill, the workers don’t have a pathway to a union – unless the employer recognizes one.  

These exclusions from labor law protections create a perfect storm for worker exploitation, especially among a workforce that is largely made up of immigrants, many of whom also face language barriers on the job. But despite the obstacles,  workers aren’t backing down.

They’ve even tried bringing their battle to the courts, suing over violations of Washington’s Little Norris-LaGuardia Act, including illegal firings of pro-union workers.

While Windmill continues to stonewall the workers, mushroom workers are taking their fight to Western Washington — where many of the vegetables that the workers pick are sold, cooked, and eaten — and are calling on labor siblings and supporters to join them in their fight.

TAKE A STAND: Join mushroom workers and supporters for a rally and demonstration on Thursday, December 19th at 12pm at the Safeway on 138 SW 148TH St. Burien, WA 98166.