A strike at a Monroe cheese factory is currently underway as 43 of W&W Dairy’s remaining workers seek severance after its recent acquisition.
W&W Dairy, 2903 3rd St., North Monroe, was recently purchased by Kansas City-based Dairy Farmers of America. Upon acquiring the North Monroe business, it required its nearly 100 employees to verify their eligibility to work in the United States by August 30. Around half of the employees left, while 43 stayed on. Those remaining intended to separate at the end of the month but requested a severance package commensurate with their decade or more of employment with the company — which was ultimately denied.
The workers went on to organize, and, they say, received threats from Dairy Farmers of America that ICE could be called if they engaged in protected bargaining actions.
After the threat, workers walked out Aug. 12, The Monroe Times reported. The strike has continued since, with an expectation for management to respond to their demands Aug. 18. Management did not, and a press conference along with a picket was held Aug. 19 in front of W&W Dairy.
“Unfortunately, companies often treat workers like they’re expendable, like they’re just tools of production,” said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, CEO of Voces De La Frontera. “(The strike) is an inspiration because they knew that they were being treated unjustly and they were not going to be used.”
Voces de la Frontera is supporting the workers by providing legal representation. The employee’s only singular demand is a severance package. They have no intention of continuing to work at W&W Dairy.
Workers are demanding three weeks of pay for each year worked. The majority of the employees who did not outright quit have worked for over a decade, Neumann-Ortiz said.
“In 2022, Dairy Farmers of America had over $101 million… in profit,” Neumann-Ortiz said. “So they can certainly afford, and especially [if] they want to break into the Hispanic cheese industry, because it’s the growing cheese sector, you can’t break into that industry and treat Hispanic workers without dignity as consumers and workers.”
Todd Larson, lawyer, diplomat and Green County Board Supervisor for the 25th district, shamed Dairy Farmers of America for not meeting a standard severance agreement.
He noted the company’s unwillingness to respect the workers of Wisconsin’s infamous cheese industry.
“If I may quote from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ for the benefit of the new owners of WW, ‘You’re not in Kansas anymore.’ This is Wisconsin and this is Green County,” Larson said. “We live by some fundamental game rules, including that all workers who are de facto relieved of service deserve a severance pay based on years of service.”
Current discussions are up in the air. No word from management has come back and employees are unsure of when they will hear from them again. Tensions and worries are high as employees are concerned for their ability to support their families.
Ultimately, as a non-unionized group, the employees are hoping to have their demands heard, but figure they may have to give up the fight eventually.
A group of temp workers, reportedly from Texas, has come in to work, but lack the adequate training to bring operations up to speed, Voces said.
Voces is asking the community to donate to a legal fund for the workers, with plans to match $20,000. It has already raised $7,000.
