November 15th: Milk with Dignity Day of Action

The past few weeks have seen some big advances in the Milk with Dignity campaign. Following the new agreement with Vermont Way Foods, pressure continues to mount on Hannaford Supermarket to get with the program.

This spring, Hannaford’s parent company Ahold Delhaize conceded to years of farmworkers’ courageous denunciations of abuses in the company’s dairy supply chain by commissioning an independent human rights investigation. Migrant Justice recently hosted the investigators charged with looking into labor violations, connecting them with workers on farms supplying Hannaford-brand milk. Farmworkers were unanimous in calling on the company to address systemic human rights violations by joining the Milk with Dignity Program. The investigators now head back to Europe to submit their report to the company.

Farmworkers have made the case for Milk with Dignity to Hannaford’s human rights investigators – and they continue to make the case to Hannaford’s customers. On Saturday, 11/15, farmworkers will lead a mass day of action, picketing three stores across Vermont. Past pickets have resulted in hundreds of Hannaford customers turning away, leading to significant drops in store sales. On November 15th, workers will be back in the streets, calling on customers to stand in solidarity with the demand for Milk with Dignity.

Stand with farmworkers on Saturday, 11/15. Join the Milk with Dignity pickets of Hannaford Supermarket in Morrisville (10am-12pm), South Burlington (1-3pm), or Middlebury (4-6pm) – or come along for all three!

The case for Milk with Dignity has never been clearer. Francisco, a worker on a Milk with Dignity farm, recently provided testimony about his experience:

The Milk with Dignity Program is really important because it guarantees access to paid vacation and sick days. We don’t have to worry about working when we’re sick, so we can rest without worrying about our paychecks. If we’re injured at work, we have paid time off to heal. We have a good home that meets our needs. The Program monitors to ensure that everything is running smoothly, and we get a raise every year.

I used to work on a farm outside of the Program, and the difference is night and day. Outside of the Program, our rights as workers aren’t respected, and we didn’t have the same benefits that I have now. Everyone should have the benefits guaranteed by the Milk with Dignity program so we can live a dignified life.

Join Francisco and farmworkers on the picket line on 11/15, and help spread the word by sharing our posts on instagram, facebook, and twitter!

p.s. In the run up to the big day of action, we will hold a national call-in day to Hannaford headquarters on Wednesday, 11/12. Sign up to contact campaign supporters and help drive calls to Hannaford!