FarmSTAND

Agricultural workers of all kinds —including seasonal workers on H-2A visas — deserve basic workplace protections. Today, we've filed an amicus brief on behalf of local and national worker advocacy organizations including United Farm Workers Of America, UFW Foundation, Farmworker Justice, and Sur Legal Collaborative on why a new federal rule must be allowed to take effect. We write that "shredding these vital provisions...will accomplish nothing except to harm U.S. workers and workers on H-2A visas alike." More on our ongoing defense of critical safety and health protections for H-2A workers: https://lnkd.in/edEmEdXS

Recently unsealed court documents have sparked a federal investigation into whether Tyson Foods forced children as young as 11 to work overnight shifts (https://lnkd.in/eap5N_7R). This is part of a broader pattern across Big Ag, and shows how important unsealing court documents are to telling the true story of this industry. As we detailed in our June blog, Big Ag often uses child labor to cut costs, taking advantage of vulnerable communities and putting profit over people. It’s clear that the current enforcement and penalties aren’t enough to deter this behavior. We need stronger protections, better funding for enforcement, and an end to agricultural exceptionalism that leaves children unprotected. FarmSTAND is ready to fight for a food system that doesn't exploit children for corporate profit. Read more about why we’re fighting for worker justice and a safer food system in our June blog post: https://lnkd.in/eB6-eJX2

NEW: Industrial meat production drives climate change—and climate change drives stronger hurricanes and other weather disasters. Communities living near factory farms pay the price.  For too many communities in the southeast recovering from devastating hurricanes, the floodwaters hide another dirty, deadly threat: tons of manure and other waste from nearby factory farms.  Factory farm waste contaminates waterways, wells, and soil with contaminants like e.coli, insecticides, and pharmaceuticals. Rural residents who rely on wells for water must pay to test and treat their wells if they want to have safe, clean water. FarmSTAND fights to protect communities from the health, environmental, and climate harms of industrial animal agriculture and to hold big meat companies accountable for their emissions and pollution.  More on our blog: https://lnkd.in/eRuAUfrB

NEW: The world's largest meat processor is forcing hundreds of Haitian workers to work at dangerous speeds and limiting their access to the bathroom, according to a recent Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charge. FarmSTAND is counsel in the case, alongside Towards Justice and King Employment Law. The charge alleges that at JBS's Greeley, CO plant, during a shift made up of predominantly Haitian workers, line speeds are as high as 430 head of cattle per hour. During the plant’s other shift, line speeds are often between 250-300 head per hour. Haitian workers are frequently forced to hold their urine for hours while cutting meat moving along the processing lines at unprecedented speeds. We'll never stop fighting for the dignity of all workers, and for a food system not built on the exploitation of anyone. MORE: https://lnkd.in/eGF8aEhU

NEW: An Oregon gas utility urged customers to pay a surcharge to offset their emissions.The money went to prop up a factory farm gas system that actually promotes increased pollution. FarmSTAND is taking on the worst in greenwashing, including this case alongside Sugerman Dahab. MORE: https://lnkd.in/gXM8e_k2

DC! THIS THURSDAY! We're just three days away from celebrating one year as the only legal advocacy organization in the country dedicated solely to taking on industrial animal agriculture. Will we see you on the lovely rooftop at 2001 K Street NW that evening? Program information and signup here: https://lnkd.in/eWPTu64h Thanks so much to Gupta Wessler LLP for being our generous host.

As factory farms have taken over America’s animal agriculture system, they have left a path of destruction, polluting water and air and destroying rural economies and the livelihoods of independent family farmers. It doesn't have to be this way. Get to know who's fighting back, and how. From our friends at the Coalition for Family Farms & the Environment, it's How to Fight a Factory Farm. Listen and subscribe: https://lnkd.in/enpfbAZc

We're proud to feature Sarah Vogel, attorney, advocate, and author of The Farmer’s Lawyer at FarmSTAND's First Anniversary event next week! Vogel is a trailblazer in agricultural law, best known for leading the historic class action case, Coleman v. Block. Join us on October 10th in Washington, DC as we celebrate, and look forward to our plans for the year ahead. Details and signup: https://lnkd.in/esximzYS

NEXT THURSDAY, 10/10. Will we be celebrating with you? Tickets: https://lnkd.in/e6apHJDe

Breaking news: Environmental Working Group, represented by Earthjustice, FarmSTAND, Animal Legal Defense Fund, and Edelson PC, has sued Tyson Foods on behalf of consumers, arguing that Tyson's net-zero pledge and "climate-smart" beef labeling are misleading. #AnimalLaw #ClimateLaw #ClimateLitigation https://lnkd.in/ew6yWqDN