Two farm workers near Omak have reached a successful settlement against Blue Bird Orchards, LLC., after facing sexual harassment and subsequent workplace retaliation.
The women, who had worked seasonally at the orchard for many years, were harassed by their foreman who stalked them in the fields and intruded on their privacy when they were compelled to seek relief outdoors due to lack of any sanitary facilities.
The supervisor also created a dangerous and intimidating work environment by carrying firearms and drinking alcohol on the job, sometimes firing his weapon while intoxicated.
When both workers courageously reported the harassment to management, Blue Bird took no action to stop the abuse or protect them. Instead, the company retaliated by refusing to rehire the women the following spring, breaking more than a decade each of seasonal employment.
Northwest Justice Project’s Farmworker Unit stepped in to help the women file complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and pursue justice through civil rights protections. When finally faced with potential litigation, the company chose to settle the case out of court.
“The resolution for the two Blue Bird workers demonstrates that farmworkers can obtain legal justice,” said NJP attorney Elizabeth Jimenez.
Yet the need is great: studies show that between 65% and 80% of female agricultural workers experience workplace sexual harassment, and many cases go unreported.
In the fields outside Omak, both women now urgently want other farmworkers to know that their voices, too, can be heard and their rights protected.
Call the Northwest Justice Project Yakima office at 509-574-4234 to contact the Farmworker Unit.
Legal Knowledge is Power.
Go to Washington Law Help to find out more about legal rights for Farmworkers in Washington State.