Week #1 Photo-report of the Milk with Dignity Month of Action!
Posted Wed, 10/09/2024 - 3:54pm
The Milk with Dignity Month of Action kicked off with a bang! Farmworkers and allies rallied at Hannaford Supermarkets around the region, connecting with customers and spreading the message: don’t cross the picket line!
The first week saw events take place at stores in South Burlington, St. Albans, Barre, and Brandon. At each action, potential Hannaford customers turned around and drove away without shopping at the store. Consumers are demonstrating that they are willing to show their solidarity with farmworkers by withholding their purchases.
Check out the full photo-report on the Migrant Justice below!
At each action, farmworkers and allies have distributed “consumer pledges” asking Hannaford customers to show support for farmworkers by pledging to never cross a picket line and – if, in the future, workers call for a full store boycott – to stop shopping at Hannaford entirely. In the first week, over 300 have signed the pledge!
The Month of Action continues this week with the following events:
- Wednesday 10/9 5-8pm, 80 Fairground Plz, Morrisville, VT (farmworker picket)
- Thursday 10/10 5:30-6:30pm, 217 Dorset St, South Burlington, VT (consumer education event)
- Thursday, 10/10 5-8pm, 295 Forest Ave. Portland, ME (consumer education event)
- Friday, 10/11, 5-8pm, 260 Court St., Middlebury, VT (farmworker picket)
The start of the Month of Action also coincided with a report from Vermont Public on the recent publication of survey data showing ongoing labor abuses in the dairy industry, contrasted with the tremendous changes achieved through Milk with Dignity. As the report notes, we are seeing a “tale of two dairy industries,” one with widespread abuses and another with rights protections and dignified conditions. Hannaford, which side are you on?
Each action begins with setting up signs around the Hannaford property. The company has hired security for every action to try to keep workers from interacting with customers. Despite their efforts, our messaging is getting out!
We try to talk with every person coming in or leaving from the Hannaford parking lot, explaining the campaign and passing them a consumer pledge.
While some farmworkers flyer customers, others picket in front of the store, chanting and beating on their drums.
Cristian Santos, a member of the Migrant Justice Farmworker Coordinating Committee gives a TV interview at the South Burlington picket.
Farmworkers come from all over to demand their rights, oftentimes losing sleep and sacrificing their limited time off of work.
All month, we are calling on Hannaford customers not to cross the picket line and not to shop at the store!
Following the picket, farmworkers march towards the store, bringing their demands to Hannaford's doorstep.
With shortening fall days, the actions are going into the evening. In spite of the darkness, our message of rights and dignity shines through!