Familias Unidas por la Justicia is an independent farm worker union of indigenous families located in Burlington, WA representing over 500 Triqui, Mixteco, and Spanish speaking workers at Sakuma Bros. Berry Farm. Familias Unidas formed in 2013 with the hopes of securing a better future for hand harvesters in the local berry fields of Whatcom and Skagit Counties in Washington State. Nearly four years later, on September 12, 2016, Familias Unidas won a historic secret ballot election ushering in a new era for farm worker justice in WA State. Familias Unidas is led by a leadership team including Ramon Torres, President, and Felimon Pineda, VP.
The contract with Sakuma Bros. guarantees a $15 hourly wage, sets up a process to calculate a fair piece-rate wage for berry pickers, establishes a grievance process and protects against arbitrary termination, among other protections of basic worker rights. Ramon Torres has said, “The union helps workers understand their rights and empowers them to stand up for themselves. It is the goal of Familias Unidas that the workers manage the contract themselves.”