Photo-report from Milk with Dignity picket at Ahold USA’s corporate headquarters

On September 4th, dozens of Vermont farmworkers and allies picketed outside of Ahold Delhaize’s US headquarters in Quincy, MA, to demand Milk with Dignity. As the parent company of Hannaford Supermarket, the $100 billion grocery conglomerate has the power to root out the human rights abuses in its dairy supply chain by joining the worker-led Milk with Dignity Program.

Alongside students and faith leaders from around New England, farmworker leader Maribel reminded Hannaford of the opportunity that they have to make real change in the dairy industry:

Hannaford, we’re bringing you the solution to the abuses in your supply chain! Joining Milk with Dignity is a real solution, not like the false one you’ve tried. I’m living proof of the real change that comes with joining the Program. So many farmworkers can and should benefit from Milk with Dignity.

9/4’s picket was the latest in a string of powerful actions increasing pressure on Hannaford to join the Program: our April trip to Ahold’s shareholder meeting the Netherlands, where Hannaford’s corporate owners reaffirmed their “open[ness] to constructive dialogue and engagement;” our Mayday action that successfully shut down Hannaford’s Williston location; and the progression of our international human rights complaint, resulting in Ahold Delhaize accepting a mediated dialogue with dairy workers to address the well-documented abuses in Hannaford’s supply chain.

As we prepare for mediation with Hannaford’s parent company, it’s more important than ever for allies to stand behind workers’ calls for Milk with Dignity. Thousands have already signed the Milk with Dignity consumer pledge, promising never to cross a picket line and to join a boycott against the grocery store chain if workers call for one.

Take a second to sign the Milk with Dignity consumer pledge, if you haven't already!

Then save the date for a Saturday, October 3rd picket of a Hannaford store in South Burlington, VT. 10/3 is the anniversary of the launch of the program, and this year we’ll be celebrating with an action to expand Milk with Dignity!

Bright and early on the morning of September 4th, workers shared a hot breakfast of home-cooked tamales before piling into four twelve-passenger vans and setting out on the four-hour drive to Quincy, MA. After two stops to pick up even more farmworkers in Montpelier and White River Junction – and refill everyone’s cups of coffee – we spent the drive listening to music, swapping stories, and catching up on sleep – especially those who had worked the night shift before the action – to build up energy for the picket. 

By 12:30, the vans arrived at the historic United First Parish Church (nicknamed the Church of the Presidents), where workers ate a quick snack, passed out signs, and got strapped into Migrant Justice’s 15-foot-tall puppet, lovingly nicknamed Neta.

Joined by local faith leaders and community supporters, farmworkers and their families marched from the church to Ahold Delhaize’s USA headquarters. Check out a video of the march on our TikTok.

After marching to the office building, workers and allies line the street holding signs.

Message of the day: Ahold fails farmworkers!

Not only farmworkers benefit from the Program – their families also get access to a better quality of life.

“Ahold, listen up! Farmworkers ain’t giving up!”

Agustin, who works on a farm outside of the Milk with Dignity Program, shares his experience working daily 12-hour shifts and sharing just one bathroom with 9 other people in his over-crowded worker housing.

Faith leaders stand with dairyworkers!

Maribel, who works on a farm inside the Program, shares how her life was changed when Milk with Dignity’s protections first went into effect.

We handed flyers to passers-by, sharing information about the Program and encouraging them to sign the pledge.

“Farmworkers deserve dignity!”

Workers head to the beach to reflect on the action and eat lunch.

After wrapping up the picket, we piled back into the vans and headed to a local beach to reflect on the action and share a meal. Workers then kicked off their shoes and waded into the ocean to wash away some stress and enjoy some well-earned relaxation. Slightly damp and with sand between our toes, we made the drive back up to Vermont in time for some rest before heading back to farms in time for the next shift.