Farmworkers have some questions for the Ahold-Delhaize CEO
Yesterday we shared the brave testimony of Mari, a dairy worker who was fired in retaliation for speaking out when she was the victim of an assault. We asked you to call Hannaford Supermarkets and urge the company to join the Milk with Dignity Program, to protect farmworkers in their dairy supply chain from abuses like Maricela’s.
And over 375 of you called! Actions like these send a clear message to Hannaford that workers and consumers are united in demanding Milk with Dignity!
Next week, Hannaford’s parent company Ahold Delhaize will hold its annual meeting of shareholders. It’s been a good year for Ahold: sales topped $80 billion with nearly $2.5 billion in profits – a whopping 60% increase! – stocks rose over 20%, and executives raked in millions in salary and bonuses. Ahold’s wealthy shareholders will come together next Wednesday to celebrate the company’s windfall profits. But that prosperity is clearly not shared by the farmworkers who form the backbone of the grocery business. And those farmworkers have some questions for Ahold’s CEO.
Check out the new video of dairy workers asking Ahold’s CEO some difficult questions, the most important of which is: Are you ready to join Milk with Dignity?
In a moment of record corporate profits and persistent violations of farmworkers’ human rights, we are calling for a region-wide day of action on Sunday, May 1st, recognized around the world as International Workers’ Day. Dairy workers will be leading mass actions outside Hannaford Supermarkets in Middlebury and Burlington, VT. We encourage allies across the northeast to organize solidarity actions at your local Hannafords.
We’ll connect you with others in your area and provide all the tools you need for a successful action. Together, farmworkers and consumers will bring the human rights struggle to dozens of Hannaford stores across the region!
p.s. Looking for some inspiration for the upcoming Mayday actions? Watch this video and photo report from our partners at the Coalition of Immokalee Workers! Vermont farmworkers joined the CIW last weekend in Florida to march to the home of the Board Chair of Wendy’s. Check out the video and learn more about the Fair Food Program – the inspiration for Milk with Dignity – and the Wendy’s Boycott!