Migrant Justice Justicia Migrante

Governor Phil Scott has signed into law S.140, a bill introduced by Migrant Justice to prohibit immigration arrests at Vermont courts. Vermont now becomes one of a handful of states to protect immigrant rights at courthouses.

In recent years, ICE has staked out courthouses around the state to detain and deport immigrants appearing for hearings. Agents have arrested people in courtrooms, on courthouse steps, and in court parking lots. One of those affected was Beto Sanchez, who recently spoke at a recent press conference:

“When I went to my hearing, everybody in the courtroom but me knew that ICE was there to arrest me. I spent three and a half months in detention before I was finally released. When people ask me if they should go to court, I don’t know what to tell them. We want to do the right thing but it’s not fair that just by going to court we can be arrested and deported.”

Farmworker leader Olga Cruz, who provided key testimony in support of the bill, celebrated the law’s passage: “This is a big step forward, but it’s only a step in a larger fight to protect our rights and end ICE’s attacks against our community.”

Read more to get the full story!

We recently put out a call for Milk with Dignity supporters to “Adopt a Hannaford" by committing to take solidarity actions at their local store on May 1st and beyond. The response has been overwhelming! 

From Machias, ME to Milton, VT, from Waltham, MA to West Lebanon, NH, and everywhere in between, people are celebrating International Workers’ Day by standing in solidarity with dairy workers’ fight for human rights. In what is shaping up to be our largest coordinated day of action ever, farmworkers and allies will be engaging Hannaford customers and managers at stores across the region with a clear message: We want Milk with Dignity!

On April 13th, Ahold Delhaize, the parent company of Hannaford Supermarkets, held its annual meeting of shareholders. The multinational corporation’s executives and investors celebrated a banner year – a 60% increase in profits, with sales topping $80 billion – and they rewarded themselves with generous bonuses and over a billion dollars in stock dividends. 

Meanwhile, farmworkers whose labor forms the base of Ahold’s wealth continue working 12 hours a day, seven days a week, in dangerous conditions, for subminimum wages, while living in housing unfit for human habitation. This stark inequality makes it crystal clear why Hannaford can and must take responsibility for conditions in its supply chain by partering with dairy workers in the Milk with Dignity program.

Hannaford customers are “adopting” their local stores on May 1st, International Workers Day, and committing to take action in support of Milk with Dignity. There are already actions confirmed at 18 Hannaford locations around the region.

Come out on Mayday to support farmworkers’ fight for rights and dignity! Workers will be leading actions in Middlebury, VT at 11:30am and in South Burlington, VT at 1:30pm. Join one of the day’s main protests, or sign up to take part in a solidarity action at your local store!

And click "Read More" to get the full report-back from Ahold's shareholder meeting!

Dairy workers are calling out the abuses on farms producing milk for Hannaford Supermarkets. In response to every denunciation, Hannaford has repeated the statement that it expects all its suppliers to "follow labor laws and treat workers fairly and humanely.” Its parent company, Ahold Delhaize touts its commitment to “ethical behavior” and “human rights.”

But farmworkers like Maricela know from painful experience the wide gap between lofty words and real protections. She recently shared:

My name is Mari and I’ve worked on dairy farms for the last five years. I first came here to give my children a better life. During my time as a farmworker I have been discriminated against and harassed. As a woman, it’s hard to face this inequality. I have worked 60 hour weeks, in the cold, for less than minimum wage. I’ve worked on different farms, some better than others, but the last farm I was on was the worst of them all. 

Read Mari's full testimony, then make a call to Hannaford today to let them know that the only way to make their "expectations" a reality is to join the Milk with Dignity Program!

End of day update: over 375 calls made to Hananford!

Today on April Fools’ Day, farmworkers are leaving messages on the facebook page of Hannaford Supermarkets, urging the company to join Milk with Dignity.

Our worker-led human rights program is an opportunity for companies to take responsibility for labor and housing conditions in their dairy supply chains. It is the only way that a company like Hannaford can guarantee that its milk is sourced free from human rights violations. To pass on that opportunity is, well, foolish.

Take a minute to head to Hannaford’s Facebook page and leave a message under a recent post showing your support for Milk with Dignity.

Following our recent press conference and picket at their central offices, Hannaford repeated the statement that it requires all its suppliers to "follow labor laws and treat workers fairly and humanely," and is conducting farm audits to make sure these expectations are being met. But these claims are roundly contradicted by the dozens of dairy workers who have spoken out to denounce the low pay, long hours, inhumane housing, workplace dangers, and abusive conditions on the farms behind Hannaford-brand milk.

Stand with farmworkers! Make a call to Hannaford today to let them know that the only way to make their "expectations" a reality is to join the Milk with Dignity Program!

End of day update: more than 375 calls made!

This past week, a delegation of dairy workers and organizers returned to Maine to continue pushing for the expansion of Milk with Dignity. Farmworkers and consumers joined together to call on Hannaford Supermarkets to address abuses in its dairy supply chain and join the worker-led human rights program.

On Friday – after months of calls, emails, and letters met with no direct response – Migrant Justice knocked on the office doors to ask for a meeting to discuss our invitation to Hannaford to join the Milk with Dignity Program. Hannaford´s response was to throw us off the property. 

So we returned the next day accompanied by dozens of local allies to hold a press conference and rally outside Hannaford’s central offices. In the face of the company’s continued refusal to meet with farmworkers in their dairy supply chain, we took the campaign right to their doorstep.

Click “Read More” to check out the full photo report from the day’s action!