(TUKWILA, Wash.) – Darigold walked out of federal mediation late Monday night setting the stage for a potential lockout or strike at the company’s production facilities in Issaquah and Seattle. The walkout left no one with authority at the bargaining table, and was the latest in a series of unfair labor practices that undermine the bargaining process and foreshadow a possible labor dispute.

“Darigold locked out its employees ten years ago, and we wonder if they’re heading in that direction again,” said Tracey A. Thompson, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 117. In 2003, Darigold locked out approximately 200 production and distribution workers from its Seattle and Issaquah processing plants for nine months.

Bargaining between the union and the company began in April and continued throughout the summer, but talks broke down when Darigold insisted on significantly increasing the amount workers pay for their health care.  On August 18, the workers voted 130-1 to authorize a strike.  

“They want to undermine our health care,” said Henning Jensen, a 25-year employee.  “Nobody wants to strike, but we will stand our ground and do what we need to do to protect our families’ well-being.” Approximately 220 Teamster production workers and lab technicians have been working at Darigold without a contract since June 1.

On September 6, Teamsters 117 filed Unfair Labor Practice charges with the NLRB, alleging that the company unilaterally changed employees’ working conditions, unlawfully bargained directly with employees over key issues, and engaged in illegal surveillance of workers during an informational picketing activity that took place on September 5. 

"Darigold no tiene por qué espiar a sus trabajadores que ejercen sus derechos a participar en actividades protegidas por la ley federal", dijo Thompson.

Darigold es propiedad de más de 700 miembros de la Asociación Lechera del Noroeste. Los trabajadores de la planta de Issaquah hacen mantequilla, crema agria y queso cottage, mientras que los trabajadores de Seattle procesan cientos de miles de galones de leche cada año, suministrando a Costco, Walmart y muchas otras tiendas de comestibles en todo el Noroeste del Pacífico. Las ventas anuales de la compañía superan los 2.000 millones de dólares.

Teamsters 117 representa a 220 trabajadores de las plantas de la compañía en Seattle e Issaquah y 16.000 trabajadores en total en todo el estado de Washington.