Mexican workers accuse berry farm of intimidation
SEATTLE — A lawsuit filed this week against a major U.S. blueberry grower and a recruiting company alleges that some 600 Mexican workers brought to a Whatcom County, Wash., farm were subject to threats and intimidation that violated federal laws prohibiting human trafficking.
The lawsuit comes in the aftermath of a tense summer harvest at the farm near Sumas, where one man became and ill and died, and dozens of workers then launched a one-day protest of harsh conditions that ended with their termination and eviction from the farm.
The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle names as defendants California-based Munger Bros., which describes itself as the largest blueberry producer in North America, Munger’s Whatcom County subsidiary Sarbanand Farms, and CSI Visa Processing.
The lawsuit alleges that a farm manager told workers that they had to be in the fields every day “unless they were on their death bed.” It does not allege that the worker’s death, which is now under investigation by state officials, resulted from the labor conditions. But it does cite workplace problems at the farm that included paltry, insufficient meals and water shortages during hot days of hard labor.
Joe Morrison, a Columbia Legal Services attorney, said the eviction and firings had a devastating impact on workers who are now back in Mexico and concerned that they might face blacklisting that would prevent future U.S. farm work. He said the lawsuit would seek financial damages as well as a court order that would protect future workers.
In a written statement, Tom Pedreira, an attorney representing Sarbanand Farms, said Sarbanand takes “seriously its responsibilities with respect to worker safety and is committed to the well-being of H-2A employees who work at the farm. Operations at the farm in Sumas include modern housing, dining and worker facilities. The company believes the lawsuit will be shown to be without merit.”
The lawsuit involves foreign agriculture workers brought to America under the H-2A visa program, who are allowed to be hired only when U.S. labor cannot be found. They enter into temporary contracts less than a year in length that bind them to a single employer who must provide free housing.
As the illegal immigration of Mexican workers has waned, these guest workers have become an increasingly important part of the workforce for farmers involved in labor-intensive crops.