Hundreds of current and former mushroom workers and their allies rallied in Seattle on Aug. 31 in support of unionization efforts at the Windmill mushroom farm in Sunnyside, Washington. Organized by the United Farm Workers (UFW), the rally’s speakers called on the community to show solidarity with workers who were unionizing at the mushroom facility.
In 2022, previous owner Ostrom Mushroom Farms fired nearly 80% of its mostly Latina workforce, prompting a gender discrimination lawsuit by the Washington Attorney General that resulted in a $3.4 million payout.
The UFW said mushroom workers toil under harsh conditions, with steep hourly quotas. An investigation found that women workers were disciplined or fired for refusing to work 12-hour shifts in order to care for their children or calling out sick.
Source: realchangenews.org