COVID-19 site visits at Yakima County fruit company fail to adequately protect workers

Screengrab taken from Evans Fruit Co.’s Tieton Plant Showcase video published on YouTube

by Sandy Robson

July 2, 2020

Washington state’s Yakima County has become a hot spot for coronavirus outbreaks, and fruit packing plants and growers there have been associated with a significant number of those.

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Slicing into whether agencies are watching out for agricultural workers’ health and safety

Photo of striking workers at Columbia Reach in Yakima, Washington. According to Yakima Health District records, as of May 21, 2020, there were at least 30 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in terms of Columbia Reach employees. Photo credit: Edgar Franks

by Sandy Robson

May 30, 2020

On May 28, 2020, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee held a press conference, during which he discussed a proclamation that he asserted would, “improve our health and safety guidelines for the hard-working people of the agricultural industry.”

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At the core of the strike: Struggling against Allan Bros.’ bottom line is workers’ call for safe and fair workplace

Photo taken on May 11, 2020, showing Familias Unidas por la Justicia president, Ramon Torres meeting with striking Allan Bros. workers. Photo credit: Brenda Bentley

By Sandy Robson

May 24, 2019

Workers at Allan Bros., Inc., a century-old apple grower, packer and shipper located in Yakima County, Washington, have been on strike since May 7, 2020, when more than 50 workers walked off the job.

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