SALEM, Ohio – Striking workers at a Wayne County dairy farm still want their jobs back if their conditions are met, according to Jeff Stewart, director of the Immigration Worker Project of Canton.
They say they want paid for all hours worked and do not want to be held responsible for how much milk the cows produce. Most of all, workers say they want respect and an end to racially motivated insults.
The 35 workers, almost all of whom are Hispanic, went on strike Nov. 2 from Stoll Farms in Marshallville, Ohio.
Stewart said attorneys for both sides are talking but nothing has been negotiated. Stoll Farms’ attorney, Mark Skakun, did not return a phone call.
Stoll Farms will not comment, according to a woman at the farm who would not identify herself.
Workers went on strike after another employee, whose arm was broken, was fired for not being able to keep up, Stewart said. They demanded to speak with owner Ed Stoll, but were told to either finish milking the 2,800 cows or be fired, Stewart said.
Related coverage:
Dairy workers go on strike (11/18/2004)
