Skagit Valley farm workers impacted by flooding

Familias Unidas por la Justicia and Community to Community Development are calling for support for farmworker families 

BURLINGTON, WA (December 16, 2025) — As devastating flooding continues in Western Washington communities, farm workers and advocates are calling for support in the Skagit Valley, a region hard hit by the recent storms. Familias Unidas por la Justicia (FUJ), a farmworker union in Northwest Washington, and Community to Community Development (C2C), a partner organization, are sounding the alarm on how flooding is impacting farmworkers.

Advocates are raising concerns about farming operations that kept workers in the fields and packing houses despite the state of emergency declared by the Governor. Per a public post from Community to Community:

“Knutzen Farms continued to operate their potato packing shed with workers inside even as groundwater pooled around them. Skagit Valley Farm had people out harvesting brussels sprouts, from 7am to 7:45pm on Wednesday the 11th and Thursday the 12th. In the community during these days of heavy anxiety over the uncertainty of the Skagit River’s dikes breaking some farmworker families were missing their father, brother and sons because they had been called in to work.”

Flooding in Burlington. Photo taken by a FUJ member

There’s concern about employers coercing farm workers to come in — and advocates are asking for support responding to exploitative work conditions. Working in flooded fields or packing houses is incredibly dangerous; being separated from family during a natural disaster is incredibly stressful. But FUJ and C2C are also concerned about farmworking families who aren’t bringing in the usual paychecks while the emergency continues. They’re calling on the broader community to urge the state government to support paid hazard leave to cover lost wages, and asking those that are able to donate to support farm workers who’ve lost wages. A list of support asks are below:

• Contact your WA State Representatives and demand Paid Hazard Leave for lost wages during extreme weather events.
• Commit to be ready to respond to emergency exploitative work incidents on WA State Farms by e-mailing c2cinfo@foodjustice.org with your contact information.
• C2C supports farmworker families who were affected by the current flood. Donations are needed both to respond to this immediate emergency as well as to change our systems, protect our local food system, and grow our communities’ resilience to  these emergencies which are increasingly frequent.
• Donate toys/funds for the children of members of Familias Unidas por la Justicia. Donations and funds will be accepted 11am-3pm at 224 Stewart Road, Mount Vernon through December 22nd. You may also donate by mailing cash cards or checks made out to Familias Unidas por la Justicia to P.O. 1206, Burlington, WA 98233