Stand with healthcare workers – and the fight for Milk with Dignity!
Posted Fri, 10/02/2026 - 1:23pm
In June, we shared the news that thousands of workers had begun to jointly bargain a new contract with the state’s largest employer, the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC). Among their contract articles is a proposal that UVMMC join the Milk with Dignity Program and buy its dairy products from farms that treat workers fairly.
Over the past several months, farmworkers have joined with hospital workers in the fight for a fair contract. Migrant Justice leaders have spoken at press conferences, joined union members in marches and rallies, and presented on the Milk with Dignity Program at contract negotiation sessions. This inspirational, cross-sectoral worker solidarity has inspired other labor unions to consider similar Milk with Dignity demands and has generated positive press coverage.
Last week, however, hospital executives presented a “last, best, and final” offer to workers that would worsen current safe staffing processes and job security protections – and that continues to leave Milk with Dignity out of the contract. Today, October 2nd, the 3,300 support staff and technical workers at the hospital announced that they have authorized a strike.
The partnership between farmworkers at Migrant Justice and the healthcare workers at UVMMC is one example of the creative approaches that we are taking to push for the expansion of Milk with Dignity. As we near the Program’s nine year anniversary tomorrow, farmworkers are more committed than ever to expand the transformational protections that only Milk with Dignity provides.
By allying with labor unions to bargain with institutions like UVMMC, with consumers to pressure corporations like Hannaford Supermarket, and with emerging businesses like Vermont Way Foods to create new products, farmworkers are bringing about a new day for human rights in dairy.