Two important solidarity actions with our region's farm workers

This important article from The STAND provides some needed context for the post below.

From the United Farm Workers:

Community support is crucial for the mushroom workers who filed a lawsuit against Windmill Farms, Sunnyside, Washington, last November. Please join the workers and United Farm Workers in front of the Yakima courthouse to show our support.

Date: Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Time: 2:00 p.m. RALLY in support of the workers; 3 pm hearing
Location: Yakima County Superior Court, 128 N 2nd St, Yakima, WA 98901

Summary of the Hearing:

The oral arguments will address two critical motions filed by Windmill/Greenwood:

1. Motion to Compel Arbitration: Windmill is seeking to move our case out of the public court system and into private arbitration.
2. Motion to Dismiss: Windmill has also filed a motion to dismiss our claims.

Why This Hearing Is Important

Company Violations: This case addresses violations of the Washington Little Norris-LaGuardia Act, including the unlawful terminations of prominent UFW supporters and other critical issues affecting worker rights.

Transparency: Keeping the case in the public court system ensures that the proceedings remain open and transparent, allowing for greater public scrutiny and accountability.

Justice for Workers: Dismissing the case at this stage would deny workers the opportunity to have their claims heard and adjudicated fully. We believe strongly in the merits of our case and in the importance of fighting for the rights of those who have been wronged.Solidarity: Your presence at the hearing will show solidarity with the affected workers and demonstrate to Windmill/Greenwood and the court that there is strong community support for holding the company accountable.
From the Rev. Connie Yost, President of Farm Worker Ministry Northwest and board member, National Farm Worker Ministry:

I recently had the privilege of speaking to members of the Yakima Association of Faith Communities, along with United Farm Workers activist Lorena and former Windmill employee Isela. Our goal was to raise awareness of farm worker issues, and to gather support for the Windmill Farms mushroom workers who are experiencing ongoing abuses in their workplace.

I urge all of you who are able to join us at the Yakima County Superior Courthouse at 2 pm on Tuesday, June 11 to show our solidarity and support for the workers.

Your support and action is something that is vitally needed. Farm workers too often feel all alone. Let's show them our love and support by being there for them.

Here are voices from the YAFC community:

Roger Yockey, Holy Family Catholic Church, Yakima: "Folks who are actively involved in the Yakima Association of Faith Communities can help our sisters and brothers who are farm workers by joining with them at rallies, peaceful protests to demand social and economic justice for the women and men who feed us. As a Christian, my faith speaks to me loud and clear to see what the situation is for workers, to judge what is happening, to pray, and then to act to change any unjust situation."

Marilyn Holloway, Bodhi Center of Yakima: "Whilst I have long been aware of the appalling conditions in which farm workers labor to put food on our tables, I was less aware of their efforts to unionize. I knew nothing about the Farm Worker Ministry Northwest and this organization's efforts to support the farm workers in their struggle for better working conditions and justice. I have also learned how I can support the farm workers, so now feel I can do something rather than being a helpless bystander."

The Rev. Connie Yost, introduction to the Prayer of the Farm Workers' Struggle, by Cesar Chavez

Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to the sanitation workers in Memphis just weeks before his assassination. These black workers were treated badly, forced to work in unsafe conditions for poverty wages. A worker had been crushed to death by a defective truck, and the mayor refused to discuss their wish for a union. Martin Luther King Jr. told them, and he reminds us, that All Labor Has Dignity. Today, farmworkers are in the same situation.

Let us pray the Prayer of the Farm Workers’ Struggle, by Cesar Chavez.

Read the latest news of the mushroom workers

Another Opportunity to Help Farm Workers

EMERGENCY BACKPACKS FOR OREGON FARM WORKERS

The Oregon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Oregon's Farm Worker Union PCUN invite Willamette Valley churches and ecumenical community groups to participate in "Solidarity Summer 2024," collaborating to provide 500 equipped backpacks for farm worker families in the 2024 wildfire season--July, August and September.

Make tax-deductible cash donations before July 1
Emergency supplies cost about $45 per backpack to protect against smoke, dehydration, dust and loss of communication in outdoor work and evacuation in an extreme wildfire event.

Give online: oregonsynod.org, text field "PCUN Solidarity" before 7/1/2024.

By mail: checks payable to "Oregon Synod," memo "PCUN Solidarity." Mail to Oregon Synod, 2800 N. Vancouver Ave., Suite 101, Portland, OR 97227, before 7/1/2024.

Solidarity Summer 2024 Backpack Celebration & Workshop
Save the Date: July 18, 2024, 1:00 P.M.--4:00 P.M.
PCUN union office, 300 Young St., Woodburn, OR 97071

Join faith and labor allies to acknowledge the land, fill backpacks and share blessings with PCUN staff leading farm worker summer wildfire preparedness workshops during July & August.

Learn more: Contact Sarah Loose, Director, Oregon Synod Director of Disaster & Climate Resilience, email sarahl@oregonsynod.org.

In the mid-Willamette Valley: Ed Brandt, member, St. Mark Lutheran Social Ministry Committee, 503-917-1326 (call / text), edgarbrandt74@gmail.com (email), for details about tax-deductible cash donations & car-pooling (meet July 18 @ 12:00 P.M. noon, St. Mark Lutheran Church, 790 Marion St. NE, Salem, OR 97301).