KGMI News

BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — A class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of about 600 foreign farm-workers who were hired to pick blueberries on a farm in northwestern Washington last summer.

The Bellingham Herald reports the lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Seattle includes 70 workers who were fired after they went on a one-day strike to protest what they said were poor working conditions and lack of medical care for an ill co-worker.

That co-worker, Honesto Silva Ibarra of Mexico, died at Harborview Medical Center Aug. 6. He was among workers brought to Sarbanand Farms near Sumas under the H-2A visa program.

The complaint against Sarbanand Farms, its owner Munger Brothers in California and labor contractor CSI Visa Processing USA alleges violations of federal and state labor laws.