WSLC endorses UFW mushroom boycott

The following is from the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO:

The largest labor organization in Washington state is calling on all working people to refuse to buy Windmill Farms mushrooms until workers’ demands are met

SUNNYSIDE, WA (May 23, 2025) — The Executive Board of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO (WSLC) voted Friday, May 16 to endorse the United Farm Workers’ ongoing boycott of Windmill Farms. The vote was unanimous, demonstrating organized labor’s strong statewide solidarity with farm workers fighting for their union and respect on the job.

For more than two years, workers at the Sunnyside mushroom facility now owned by Windmill Farms have been fighting for union recognition. Washington labor law excludes farm workers from the right to organize, leaving no legal pathway to force the employer to recognize the union, despite support from the majority of the workforce. Because farm workers are deprived of these legal protections, community pressure on the employer to do right by the workers is essential. 

Current and former mushroom workers pose with UFW President Teresa Romero at an event in 2024 calling attention to their ongoing fight for union recognition. Photo: WSLC

At this facility, workers have faced harassment and discrimination, and have reported retaliation for organizing for better working conditions. 

“The union-busting and disrespect that Windmill Farms has subjected our farmworker siblings to is both shameful and unacceptable,” said April Sims, President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO. “These hard-working folks literally put food on our tables, yet their employer refuses to treat them with respect and recognize the union that the workers have fought for. As the leader of the largest labor organization in our state, let me be clear: Washington is a union state, and over half a million union members statewide are putting our money where our mouths are. No Windmill Farms mushrooms until the workers’ demands are met.”

Endorsing a boycott is a serious step. Prior to the boycott vote, the Council repeatedly reached out to Windmill Farms to open a conversation, per the process outlined in the WSLC Constitution. Despite multiple attempts, the company refused to respond. 

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

“For years, workers at Windmill Mushrooms Farm have fought for the most basic of all labor rights: the right to a union,” said UFW President Teresa Romero. “Over and over again, the farm workers of the Yakima Valley have faced harassment, intimidation, and retaliation. Multiple workers who have been fired by Windmill continue to demand justice; while new workers brought in to replace them have continued to join the struggle. We now turn to you – the people of Washington – to help us continue the fight for a union at Windmill mushrooms by joining in our boycott.”

Mushroom workers are standing up for themselves against the backdrop of escalating attacks on immigrant workers, including weaponized immigration enforcement that organized labor believes is targeting farm workers, like UFW members in New York State and local farm worker union organizer Alfredo ‘Lelo’ Juarez Zeferino. Recent ICE actions in Sunnyside have also done much to spread fear in the community where Windmill workers have been organizing. The courage of these predominantly immigrant workers to organize in the face of these threats is an inspiration to the entire labor movement.

Workers will gather in Seattle on May 28 at noon for the annual United Farm Workers Luncheon to share their stories and urge support for their boycott. For more information contact media@ufw.org.