Today, Judge Cameron Mitchell of the Franklin County Superior Court found that Ruby Ridge Dairy, a member of the Darigold cooperative, violated the law by failing to provide workers with mandated rest breaks. 1.
“There can no longer be any doubt about Ruby Ridge’s illegal activities,” said Erik Nicholson, National Vice President of the UFW. “Today the court definitively ruled that Ruby Ridge broke the law.”
The court ruled in favor of seven former Ruby Ridge employees today. The court will late decide how much workers are owed for these violations. Trial is scheduled to start on October 3rd on the workers’ claims that they were not provided with legally mandated meal periods.
“Today’s ruling further documents the substandard working conditions dairy workers employed on Darigold dairies face.” Legal rulings clearly aren’t enough to bring about the changes workers deserve. Today, we reiterate our call for retailers who sell Darigold products to take responsibility for these conditions and to work collaboratively with the UFW to make significant improvements together,” said Nicholson.
- On September 10, 2018,the judge found that Ruby Ridge failed to provide rest breaks to Ruby Ridge workers, but that on April 2, 2019, he reversed this decision and now says the issue must be decided by a jury.