WA farmworkers fight for union recognition at mushroom farm that was sued over discrimination,...

Labor activists and farmworkers demonstrated in downtown Seattle Thursday afternoon for the right to organize a union at a mushroom farm in Central Washington.

The farm was sued by the state earlier this year over several workplace violations.

Maria Rangel used to work at the farm. She said she loved her job cultivating mushrooms, but she supported the effort to unionize, hoping to make her workplace better. She was later let go, she said.

“I’m not going to lie, I was a little worried about losing my job, but I’ve always been firm about making that place better. I loved that job,” Rangel told KUOW in Spanish.

She said she felt targeted because of her strong views on the union, adding that many current employees fear the same consequence that she faced for speaking out.