Dairy Boss Threatens Workers with "Anti-Union" Rifle

Dick Bengen gives new meaning to his first name. He's the owner of Ruby Ridge Dairy in Pasco, W.A., a company that has been fighting worker unionization efforts for years. Dairy work, especially at a big factory farm, is difficult and dangerous under even the best conditions, but at Ruby Ridge, workers are subjected to long hours with no lunch, no breaks, and no overtime. Workers report that they aren't provided with drinkable water and are subjected to racist slurs.

This abuse has had activists targeting the dairy for some time now, and there is an ongoing effort by employees to organize with the United Farm Workers (they would be the first dairy ever to do so). Now Bengen has reached a new low: carrying a rifle to work to scare his employees back in line.

According to United Farm Workers, Bengen let former employee Miguel Cuevas know exactly what purpose that rifle serves, telling him, "This rifle is for those people with the union." Cuevas was fired after signing a union card, and he says the company gave him an illegal ultimatum: renounce the union or lose his job. Not only that, but Ruby Ridge lied and told authorities that Cuevas had quit, blocking him from receiving unemployment. Plus, the dairy farm provided bad references so that Cuevas couldn't get a new job. He lost his house and wound up sleeping in his car for a time, all because he stood up for his rights.

Cuevas has joined several other former employees in suing Ruby Ridge for these kinds of abuses and threats, but they are just a handful of the third of the Ruby Ridge workforce that has been unlawfully discharged.

Meanwhile, a campaign has formed to force Bengen back in line with the law through other means. A mortgage company called Northwest Farm Credit Services loaned Ruby Ridge a whopping $13 million on January 29, 2008. That mortgage contract states, "Mortgagors agree to comply with all laws, ordinances, regulations, covenants, conditions and restriction affecting the Property use including without limitation all environmental laws. Also not to use or permit the use of the Property for any unlawful or objectionable purpose or for any purpose that poses an unreasonable risk of harm, or that impairs or may impair the value of the Property." Breaking labor laws left and right is clearly a violation of these terms.

So far the bank has turned a blind eye, saying that it doesn't want to get involved. You can help change that. Sign the UFW's petition telling Northwest Farm Credit Services to enforce its contract terms and use its influence to get Ruby Ridge to stop breaking the law. Supporters of the workers will be gathering on January 11th in front of the bank to make this demand in person, so we need to get as many signatures as we can by then. If you're in the Spokane, W.A. area, please consider joining them and showing your support. Meanwhile be sure to sign the petition and make sure that any milk you buy does not come from Ruby Ridge.

Photo credit: Mad House Photography via Flickr