From Addison to Amsterdam, fighting for farmworker rights!

April 10th was a major day for the Milk with Dignity campaign. Around Vermont, across the country, and in Europe, Migrant Justice and allies took action to stand up for the rights and dignity of dairy workers.

Farmworkers led three surprise actions at Hannaford stores, gathering to speak with managers and educate customers about conditions in the company’s supply chain. Workers handed out informative leaflets and urged store managers to speak with company executives on the need for Milk with Dignity.

Workers in Middlebury, VT share the abuses they face on farmers in Hananford’s supply chain

Protestors passed out leaflets to customers – and left a few around the store

Farmworkers unfurled a banner in Morrisville, VT calling for Milk with Dignity

Farmworkers speak with the store manager in St. Albans, VT

Meanwhile, hundreds of customers and allies contacted the office of Hannaford President Mike Vail directly, voicing their support for Milk with Dignity and calling on the company to sit down with farmworkers. Over 400 people called throughout the day!

And finally, Migrant Justice arrived in The Netherlands, home of Hannaford’s parent company Ahold Delhaize. Though travel delays prevented the delegation from participating directly in the meeting, we spoke with shareholders and executives as they left the building. And for good measure, we paid a visit to Ahold’s headquarters to deliver a clear message that workers and consumers are united in demanding Milk with Dignity!

Marita and Will from Migrant Justice at the entrance of Ahold Delhaize’s shareholder meeting

The Migrant Justice delegation in Europe is also connecting with labor and civil society organizations to build solidarity and identify additional points of pressure on Ahold Delhaize. Following the shareholder meeting, we connected with Milieudefensie, the Dutch chapter of environmental NGO Friends of the Earth, which is organizing to push Ahold to meet needed climate goals. 

Over 100 Dutch climate activists leaving the Ahold meeting. Migrant Justice is building transnational solidarity for human rights and climate justice.

Throughout the week, the delegation is meeting with various sectors of Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (FNV), the largest trade union in The Netherlands, which represents workers at other subsidiaries of Ahold Delhaize. On April 12th, we travel from Amsterdam to The Hague to deliver a talk at the International Institute of Social Studies. 

A trade unionist from FNV shares lessons from Dutch labor history with Migrant Justice

Stay tuned for more information about the upcoming action on May 1st, International Workers’ Day!