MINNEAPOLIS — A civil lawsuit filed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison alleges a large central Minnesota dairy farm has “systematically deprived” its workers of both their wages and their dignity.
On Monday, Ellison filed the lawsuit in Stearns County District Court against Evergreen Acres Dairy, Evergreen Estates, Morgan Feedlots and the dairy operations’ owners Keith Schaefer and Megan Hill. Ellison also shared insights about the case in a virtual press conference Monday morning.
“This isn’t ‘The Jungle,’ describing the meatpacking industry in Chicago a hundred years ago. This is Minnesota,” Ellison noted about the allegations, adding, “The size of the theft makes this one of the largest enforcement actions our office has taken to fight wage theft.”
Ellison’s office is seeking $3 million in lost wages for hundreds of undocumented workers – most of whom are from Mexico and speak limited or no English. The case also cites Evergreen’s role as landlord, given the lack of available housing near the Central Minnesota facilities. Court documents reference “squalid, substandard” housing, including mold, mildew and insect infestations and a lack of heat, windows and, at least in one case, a toilet.
Ellison pointed out that under deferred action relief, the workers are also protected from any enforcement action by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
KARE 11 did leave several messages with the owners or others at the Paynesville dairy farm but did not hear back from anyone.
Meantime, a faith-based organization advocating on behalf of the Latinx community in central Minnesota, is urging other workers to contact them with questions or concerns.
“You have a right. You are human. You need to talk for yourself,” said Ma Elena Gutierrez with Fe y Justicia.
For more information about Fe y Justicia, just click here.
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