UFW announces boycott amid workers unionization struggles

The United Farm Workers (UFW) have officially initiated a boycott against Windmill Mushroom Farm amidst ongoing struggles for union recognition by workers. This decision follows a series of protests held by current and former employees in December 2024 at the company’s facility in Sunnyside, Washington. UFW President Teresa Romero stated that Washington's agricultural workers are denied the right to organize, making it particularly difficult for them to secure union recognition. The situation has escalated as many pro-union workers have faced adverse actions, including termination and workplace pressures that have forced them to leave their jobs. Windmill Mushroom, the only mushroom facility in the region, distributes its products widely across the Pacific Northwest.

This boycott is significant, marking UFW's first major action of the decade, and it aims to draw attention to the ongoing labor disputes and legal barriers faced by agricultural workers. Allegations of retaliatory practices and a hostile work environment have further fueled the activists' resolve, as they seek justice for the affected employees. The UFW's campaign serves not only as a call for recognition but also as a broader movement for workers' rights in the agricultural sector.