(dramatic music) - I'm Starla Sampaco in the Crosscut KCTS9 newsroom.

Mushroom farmworkers in Yakima Valley are rallying for union support.

For several months, workers at Ostrom Mushroom farms have been pushing to improve working conditions and address other issues with the company, like it's decision to fire local workers and replace them with international guest workers under the H-2A program.

The lawsuit filed by the State Attorney General's Office claims that Ostrom discriminated against its workers by firing 140 out of 180 of them, most of them female, and hiring male H-2A workers in their place.

The office also claims that the company arbitrarily raised production standards without notifying employees and that Ostrom has retaliated against workers who voiced concerns.

(bright music) I'm Starla Sampaco.

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