Farmworkers Call on Ben & Jerry's to Stand Up for Dairy Workers' Rights in Supply Chain! (May Day)

http://www.migrantjustice.net/blogs/anonymous/farmworkers-call-on-ben-jerrys-to-stand-up-for-dairy-workers-rights-in-supply-chain

Posted Wed, 04/29/2015 - 8:46pm

On May Day VT Dairy Workers Announce New Campaign

Calling upon Ben & Jerry's to Stand Up for Farmworker's Rights In its Supply Chain

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For four years, Migrant Justice dairy farmworkers have been meeting with Ben & Jerry's in order to educate the ice cream company on on the gross labor abuses and housing crisis facing Vermont dairy workers in its supply chain.

After months of requesting an in-person meeting with Ben & Jerry's CEO Jostein Solheim, Migrant Justice was granted a meeting last Monday instead with members of Ben & Jerry's Caring Dairy Program, Social Mission Team, and PR department. Farmworker Victor Diaz concluded the meeting by posing the simple question, "Will you take responsibility for these worker's rights abuses in your supply chain and sit down with us to negotiate an agreement to participate in the Milk with Dignity Program -- yes or no."

While workers say the meeting was hopeful, they also left without the one thing they set out to achieve: a clear commitment from Ben & Jerry's to negotiate an agreement. Farmworker leader Enrique Balcazar explains, "Ben & Jerry's has stood up for cows (No RGBH), for chickens (cage-free egg agreement with Humane Society), and for international farmers (fair trade). They've pledged support for climate justice, for Occupy Wall St, and are rated a B-Corp--which is supposedly the highest standard for corporate responsibility.”

So, after four years of us educating them about farmworker human rights abuses in its supply chain, it’s time Ben & Jerry's stands up for the rights of the same farmworkers who put the cream in ice cream by joining the Milk with Dignity Program!"

FULL story at link.