A dozen Whitman students marched with Ruby Ridge workers seeking to improve working conditions at the Pasco, Washington dairy.

Ruby Ridge employees said in interviews with the student newspaper the Pioneer that employees at the dairy typically work 8-12 hour days, six days a week, without bathroom or lunch breaks. Employees do not receive benefits and those that have attempted to unionize have been fired by the dairy owners, Dick and Ruby Bengen.

“We’re here because everyone should have basic human rights,” said sophomore Maggie Allen in an interview with the Pioneer. She attended the March 5 rally outside the dairy.

In an effort to put added pressure on the dairy owners, Whitman sophomore, Katie Radosevic, and six other students are working to organize a boycott of Darigold products at Walla Walla Community College and Walla Walla University.

Darigold Inc, is a dairy cooperative in Seattle, WA that buys milk from Ruby Ridge Dairy.

“We want to promote awareness and get as many students involved in activism as possible,” said Radosevic in an interview with the Pioneer. She said it was important for consumers to be aware of where their products come from.

To advocate for the 28 workers, The United Farm Workers of America is also suing Ruby Ridge for requiring its workers to buy the equipment they use for their job, which they say is in violation of state and federal labor laws.

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