Farmworkers Union Walk Out from the Fields This Morning

For Immediate Release:
June 9th, 2016
Contacts: Maru Mora Villalpando (206) 251-6658 (English)
Ramon Torres, (360) 920-7215 (Spanish)

Farmworkers Union Walk Out from the Fields This Morning

Familias Unidas por la Justicia Members Demand Sakuma Fair Pay and to Negotiate Union Contract

Burlington, WA — Familias Unidas por la Justicia (FUJ) members, an independent farmworker union based in Burlington, WA, and other farmworkers walked out of the Sakuma Bros Berry Farms this morning after more than 120 workers demanded an increase of the $0.24 per pound of strawberries that they were receiving. Workers are asking for an increase of their wage to $0.35 per pound of strawberries, along with the ongoing ask for a union contract.

Since the summer of 2013 there have been at least six walkouts to demand an increase in wages, and farmworkers created FUJ to demand Sakuma negotiate a union contract that includes labor protections, $15/hour minimum salary, allowing workers to take time off when ill, an end to intimidation, better treatment of workers, respect, a clean workplace and improved housing conditions, and no yelling or threatening workers, among other demands.

Sakuma has refused to sit at the negotiation table, FUJ and supporters have continued to promote and expand the boycott of both Sakuma Berries and Driscoll Berries, a client of Sakuma Bros Berry Farms, at both a national and international level.

For videos and pictures visit https://boycottsakumaberries.com

Farmworker leaders are available for interviews.

# # #

FUJ is an independent farmworker union in Burlington WA with 500 members fighting for a union contract with Sakuma Farms to ensure living wage salaries, fair treatment, respect and dignity of farmworkers.

------

Call to Action:

YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED RIGHT NOW!

More than 100 workers are still outside the Sakuma fields this morning. They walked out of the fields as they did close to three years ago, now demanding an increase from .24 cents to .35 cents per pound of strawberry picked.

The struggle continues and we need your support. Please share and call Ryan Sakuma demanding an .11 cents increase for the farmworkers' labor at 360-661-4269 and tell him Sakuma should finally negotiate with the Union. Sakuma Administrative offices 360-770-4162 Call now!

‪#‎BoycottDriscolls‬ ‪#‎BoycottSakuma‬ #FUJSolidaridad