Timeline of Labor Dispute at Sakuma Brothers Farm, Inc.
Summer 2013
Summer 2014
Spring 2014
Winter 2014
Fall 2013
July 10, 2013Frederico Lopez is fired and evicted.
First work stoppage begins.
July 22, 2013240 farmworkers vote for second work
stoppage over differential treatemnt.
August 5, 2013All pickers on the Familias Unidias por la
Justicia crew are laid off, told it is due to
poor picking quality.
Ausut 11, 2013FUJ negotiations committee agrees to begin to work
for a legally enforecable
contract
August 14, 2013Sakuma Brothers breach pay contract. 83 FUJ
farmworker leaders protest to
protect breach
August 27, 2013Boycott picketline at Hilltop Red Apple
Market succeeds in having Sakuma Berries removed from
shelves.
Fall 2014
September 25, 2013Skagit County court rules in favor of
farmworkers granting an injunction.
October 7, 2013WA State Federation of Employees Convention
passes resolution in support of Familias Unidas por la
Justicia.
October 24, 2013Familias Unidas files a class-action lawsuit on
wage and hour violations.
November 8, 2013FUJ addresses the PNW NACCS confer-ence in
Olympia, Wash.
November 14, 2013FUJ President Ramon Torres addresses the
Legislative Work Session with Wash-inton State Labor and Workforce
Committee
January 18, 2014Boycott picket line in San Francisco
Haagen-Dazs
February 11, 2014Familias Unidas por la Justicia
supporters hold a march and rally at the state Capitol buliding
during Latino
Legislative Day.
February 24, 2014NW Detention Center and Not 1 More Deportation
engage in a direct action
that blocks the deportation of detainees
March 29, 2014Familias Unidas por la Justicia hold a picket line
at Seattle premier of Cesar Chavez movie
April 9, 2014Familias Unidas submits 300 letters of intent to
work to Sakuma Bros. Farm and the Department of Labor in
Seattle
April 17, 2014Grassroots Global Justice endorses Sakuma Berry
Boycott
April 21, 2014Sakuma Bros. Farms sends letters to farmworkers
letting them know they are eligible for rehire, but will not be
provided family cabins
May 4, 2014FUJ and WWU Students for Farmwork-er Justice
participate in the 2nd Annual Farmworker Dignity March from Lynden
to Bellingham
May 15, 2014FUJ sues Sakuma Bro. Farms under WA Law Against
Discrimination.Remanded by US District court, awards attourney
feeds to FUJ to be paid by Sakuma.
May 27, 2014Skagit County Superior Court grants temporary
injunction against Sakuma to stop retaliation and regire eligible
union workers.
June 5, 2014Governor Inslee appoints Farm Work
Group to come up with administrative solutions brought up bu
Familias Unidas
por la Justicia.
June 11, 2014Sakuma Bros. Farm agrees to settle
wage and hour class-action lawsuit for a record $850,000
June 26, 2014Skagit County Superior Court orders Sa-
kuma Bros. to house farmworker families
July 15, 2014CEO Steve Sakuma announces the farm
will not be hiring for the harvest until August.
August 1, 2014Sakuma executives spray pesticides in area
adjacent to field office to disperse
Union Action team.
August 11, 201470+ farmworkers stop work over
firing of Cornelio Ramirez, FUJ committee member.
September 5, 2014Manager of Bellingham grocery store, Terra
Organica, endorses a berry boycott and stops selling Driscolls
brand.
October 23, 2014Management of Alberta Co-op in Portland, Ore.
endorses a boycott of berries sourced at Sakuma Bros. Farms.
Winter 2015
Spring 2015
January 22, 2015Familias Unidas por la Justicia and WWU
Students for Farmworker Justice host Farmworkers Speak Out at
Western to
raise awareness.
February 3, 2015WWU Students for Farmworker Justice travel to
Olympia to protest HB 1104.
February 23, 2015WWU Students for Farmworker Justice
and Familias Unidas staged a protest at the Bellingham co-op to
encourage the co-op to continue their boycott against
Sakuma.
March 3, 2015Sakuma Brothers Farm names Danny Weeden as new
CEO
April 1, 2015Driscolls announces Kevin Murphy as new CEO
April 16, 2015Sakuma Brothers issues new pay plan of $10 per
hour for farmers, as well as a wage cap.
May 8, 2015Sakuma Brothers Farm announces they will not be
opening their U-pick fields and market stand in Burlington.
