RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING FARMWORKER UNION FAMILIAS UNIDAS POR LA JUSTICIA AND SUPPORTING FAMILIAS UNIDAS’ BOYCOTT OF SAKUMA BROTHERS BERRIES Resolution #39 WHEREAS, farmworkers are not afforded the protections of many federal and state and employment laws, such as the National Labor Relations Act; and WHEREAS, farmworkers perform physically demanding and dangerous seasonal work for low piece-rates, with limited ability to advocate for improvements in wages and working conditions without a union; and WHEREAS, Farmworkers at Sakuma Brothers Farms in Burlington, Washington have experienced hostile work environments, discrimination, poor housing conditions, and wage theft; and WHEREAS, farmworkers at Sakuma Brothers Farms formed their own union, Familias Unidas por la Justicia, during a series of strikes over wages and working and living conditions in 2013; and WHEREAS, Familias Unidas is an affiliate of the Northwest Washington Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO; and WHEREAS, Familias Unidas has been fighting for recognition and a union contract at Sakuma Brothers Farms for more than a year; and WHEREAS, Sakuma Brothers has repeatedly retaliated against Familias Unidas members for participating in strikes, boycott activities, organizing, and other union activities; and WHEREAS, Sakuma Brothers applied, and later withdrew their application for, 438 H-2A agricultural guest workers when there was already an ample workforce of Familias Unidas members; and WHEREAS, Sakuma Brothers has been ordered by a Skagit County court to stop retaliating against Familias Unidas members by refusing to rehire members who went on strike for five or more days in 2013; and WHEREAS, Sakuma Brothers has been ordered by s Skagit County court to stop retaliating against Familias Unidas members by no longer providing family housing that it has offered for decades; and WHEREAS, Sakuma Brothers settled a wage theft lawsuit brought by Familias Unidas members for work performed between 2010 and 2013 for $500,000; and WHEREAS, Sakuma Brothers co-owner, Steve Sakuma, has publicly announced that he will not sign a union contract with Familias Unidas; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, formally recognizes Familias Unidas por la Justicia as a labor union representing farmworkers in Washington State; and, be it further RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, will honor the boycott of Sakuma Brothers berries called by Familias Unidas por la Justicia; and, be it further RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, will notify affiliates of the Sakuma Brothers boycott and publicize the boycott; and, be it finally RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, will work with Familias Unidas por la Justicia to support their efforts in the boycott against Sakuma Brothers Farms.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 18:58:17 +0000
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