In summer of 2014, workers at Sakuma Brothers Farm in Burlington, Washington protested farmer treatment of workers. The strikes, protests, legal action and boycotts continued until the farm signed a union contract with the new Familias Unidas por la Justicia union in 2016. In early August 2017, workers protested at the Sarbanand blueberry farm near Sumas, Washington. In September 2017, workers protested at the Larson Fruit orchard in Quincy, Washington, then later at Stemilt farms. All actions were initiated and directed by Rosalinda Guillen of Community to Community, a worker center located in Bellingham, Washington. Also directly involved was Ramon Torres, the Sakuma farmworker recruited by Ms. Guillen to head the union Familias Unidas por las Justicia or FUJ. All targeted farms were using the H-2A guest worker program.
