Building Farmworker Power: The Women of WP Packing
NJP’s Farmworker Unit has one underlying goal: to build farmworker power. And that means supporting the leadership of Latina farmworkers who organize, speak up, and create change. Litigation can support that mission, but farmworker power does not begin with lawyers or lawsuits. It begins with workers.
“You’ll Never Forget”: A Family Fights Job Displacement
NJP sued Cornerstone Ranches on behalf of 8 workers fired without warning and replaced by temporary foreign workers, and alerted the State Attorney General (AG). NJP won a substantial settlement for each of the eight workers, and the AG investigation produced more than $1 million in relief for similarly displaced Yakima Valley farmworkers.
NJP in the News: Farmworker Victory in Yakima Valley
In a case first flagged by NJP’s Farmworker Unit, dozens of Washington farmworkers will benefit from a settlement with the Toppenish-based hops and apple producer Cornerstone Ranches. The company had unjustly fired or forced out local farmworkers, replacing them the next day with temporary foreign workers.
Two Farmworkers Settle Retaliation Case with Fruit Packing Company
Two farm workers near Omak have reached a successful settlement against Blue Bird Orchards, LLC., after facing sexual harassment and subsequent workplace retaliation.
NJP in the News: Alex Galarza reaches out to WA farmworkers about their rights
This Community Q&A in the Yakima Herald-Republic features Alex Galarza, who heads farmworker outreach for Northwest Justice Project across Washington state. “We assist warehouse employees, dairy workers, field workers, and H-2A guest workers who only come for the season and have no one explaining anything to them, making them more vulnerable to labor abuse. We […]
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Outreach team tills justice for farmworkers
Justice in Action: NJP’s Outreach Workers Champion Farm Workers’ Rights The Northwest Justice Project's (NJP) Farmworker Unit, based in Yakima, provides legal advice and representation to farmworkers and their families across Washington state. At the heart of the unit is its outreach program. In 2011, Alex Galarza became the sole outreach worker; today he heads […]
Justice in Action: Migrant Worker Victory Against Deceptive Labor Contractors
In a pivotal case in Washington State, a group of H-2A visa workers from Mexico successfully sued deceitful farm labor contractors and were awarded $84,000 in damages. As a result of the case, Washington State denied farm labor contractor licenses to the contractors and their companies last year, preventing them from using the H-2A visa program to traffic workers.
Beatriz: Unjustly fired employee forces company to change sick leave policies
Honoring National Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month: “I moved here from Guerrero, Mexico, with my family when I was 19. I’m about to turn 50 and I’ve been working in packing all of this time. My most recent job was demanding. We did a range of tasks, from packing to quality control. We sorted apples, pears and other products, throwing away rotten fruit, repackaging the good ones.”
Honoring Latina-o-x Heritage: Washington farmworkers’ fight for justice persists
The Latina-o-x community makes up the great majority of Washington State’s agricultural workers. As a community of color, culturally and linguistically distinct, it is no accident this critical labor force faces chronic unsafe working conditions, harassment, and economic exploitation. During the pandemic, Congress passed a law to protect workers who got sick. However, many agricultural employers engaged in campaigns to rid workers rumored to have spread COVID.
NJP helps five women farmworkers win $265k lawsuit against Washington fruit packer
"Five farmworkers have settled a lawsuit that alleged a Wapato fruit packing company interfered with worker organization efforts and wrongfully fired employees."