At May Day rally in South Burlington, hundreds urge Hannaford to support dairy workers

South Burlington — Leydi Gonzalez of has been milking cows at a farm in Enosburg Falls for three years. On May Day, she joined fellow dairy workers from across the state in rallying outside Hannaford’s Dorset Street supermarket to urge the company to source dairy products from farms guaranteeing good working conditions.

“We’re doing the work and not getting the benefits,” Gonzalez said through a translator.

She came to the rally with her husband and son, all holding posters in support. One of them read: “I milk cows 60 hrs/week for less than minimum wage.”

More than 200 people gathered at the Staples plaza on Williston Road Sunday afternoon to organize and march to Dorset Street supermarket. Many of them were migrant workers and Spanish speakers. Similar actions were planned for Middlebury and throughout New England, according to organizers with Migrant Justice, which advocates for farm workers’ rights in Vermont.

May Day is celebrated as International Workers’ Day in many countries around the world. Like workers elsewhere, Vermont’s farm workers continue to organize and rally for fair treatment, according to Yobani, a Migrant Justice member who did not provide his last name.

“That’s what’s motivating us to take to the street today to march, to rally, for that very reason – to demand that our work be respected,” he said in a speech.

The Milk with Dignity program is a campaign by Migrant Justice to promote fair wages and humane working and living conditions for Vermont farm workers.

In 2017, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream signed on to the program by committing to source 100% of its northeast dairy supply chain from farms that comply with a comprehensive, worker-authored code of conduct. The company pays a premium to participating farms, Migrant Justice educates workers on their rights in the program, and a third-party auditor — the Milk with Dignity Standards Council, a local nonprofit — monitors compliance, according to Migrant Justice.

The organization has been campaigning since 2019 for Hannaford to join the Milk with Dignity program.

“What do we want? Milk with Dignity. When do we want it? Now,” marchers shouted.

“It’s all about rights, very basic human rights. It shouldn’t even be a fight,” said Deb Bouton, 66, of Burlington, who shops at Hannaford and said she often takes a Migrant Justice poster with her when she does. If Hannaford signed on to the Milk with Dignity program, it could be a great public relations move, she said.

Bouton said she attended the event because it’s “aggravating” that farm workers work so hard but can’t survive on their wages.

The march started around 2 p.m., eliciting honks as the procession winded up Dorset Street. A couple of people dressed up as cows. Some sported black and white patches, and another carried a stuffed bovine.

Posters read: “Milk with Dignity for Human Rights,” “The cows don’t milk themselves,” and “I am an essential worker.”

Security officers and South Burlington police lined the front of the supermarket entrance as the rally drew close around 2:40 p.m. A Hannaford employee who identified himself as Tom Darling declined to comment. He spoke briefly with organizers as workers continued to chant and march around a median in the parking lot outside the store.

Hannaford media representatives did not respond to an email seeking comment earlier this week.

Supporters joining the rally included local residents, Hannaford shoppers, members of the Champlain Valley chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, People’s Green New Deal Vermont and the Industrial Workers of the World labor union.

“We were part of actions in over 30 Hannaford stores from across New England demanding Milk with Dignity now,” said Ashley Smith, a member of Community Voices for Immigrant Rights and one of several speakers at the rally.

From University of Vermont employees and migrant workers at Vermont farms to those working in Amazon warehouses, Starbucks stores and Apple factories, “workers are getting organized and demanding fair wages, good benefits and dignity on the job,” Smith said.

600 members left to go

We are behind our goal right now during our critical Spring Member Drive. As a nonprofit, VTDigger relies on voluntary donations from readers to keep the news flowing — and free for all who need it. Please contribute in any amount today and you’ll be sustaining our daily investigative reporting, plus 1 donation = 1 children’s book via our partnership with the Children’s Literacy Foundation.