Farmworkers in Hannaford’s Supply Chain Recount Brutal Assault By Boss, Plan Month of Action

VIDEO: Farmworker & his nephew recount brutal assault by boss on Vermont farm.

In July, news broke about a farm owner’s brutal assault on a farmworker and his 15-year old nephew at dairy and maple farm in Vermont. It was revealed that the alleged attacker Richard Hulett, the owner of Deer Flats Farm and member of Pawlet Select Board, provides milk in the dairy supply chain of Hannaford Supermarket, highlighting the abuse common in an industry where workers have few rights and protections. The beating was so severe that both victims, Ulver Perez Roblero and his nephew Josue Adrian, reportedly had to seek emergency medical care.

At a press conference organized by the farmworker-led group Migrant Justice on July 3, the alleged victim Ulver Perez Roblero said he had just returned to his trailer after a day of work when Hulett knocked on his door and attacked him.

“I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t say anything. He was holding me down as he hit me,” Roblero said in Spanish, according to Vermont Public Radio. “I was trapped with nowhere to go and I couldn’t call out, and I felt like I was going to die. I thought that this was going to be my last day on the Earth.”

According to Roblero, it was then that his teenage nephew Josue Adrian tried to stop the attack, but Hullett proceeded to attack him as well. When learning of Josue Adrian’s age, Roblero said Hullett stopped, then proceeded to pressure him to drink beer, gave them life jackets and dragged them behind his boat on an inner tube. At the press conference, Roblero said they didn’t understand what was happening and feared Hullett would kill them

“We were out on the lake and didn’t know what he wanted from us," Roblero said, according to Vermont Public Radio. "My nephew was crying and he said ‘Uncle, I don’t want to be here anymore.’”

Later they were brought back home, but they said the boss laughed when they said they needed medical care. Migrant Justice later brought them to the local hospital. Police cited Hullett on two counts of misdemeanor assault. Josue’s mom Ulda later shared with Migrant Justice, “My biggest fear was to lose my housing situation right now. I feel a little bit comfortable, maybe a little bit safer, … because I have the community with me … we are organizing, we're raising our voices, we're making it public.”

The Vermont Department of Public Safety reported in a news release that Hullett "received information alleging an individual had attempted to distribute illegal narcotics on the property.” However, Migrant Justice released a response stating, "This allegation stemmed from a misunderstanding in a conversation across language barriers. No worker sold or attempted to sell drugs. This is a distraction from a brutal assault against a worker and his family, that was not justified by any means.”

In a statement to the press, a Hannaford spokesperson denied that Deer Flats Farm is in the grocery chain’s supply chain. However, workers confirmed that the farm is part of Dairy Farmers of America, a dairy cooperative that commingles milk for sale to H.P. Hood, Hannaford’s private label supplier. To date, Hannaford has provided no evidence to support its claims, argues Migrant Justice.

Meanwhile,  Migrant Justice is launching a Month of Action in October picketing stores across New England, including Maine, calling on Hannaford to join the Milk with Dignity Program and urging customers not to cross the picket line. There are two events scheduled in Maine, one in Portland on October 17 and one in Belfast on October 19.

Sign up here if you would like to participate in or organize a Hannaford picket!