Dairy Farmers of America plant closure halted by federal judge

A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order to halt the planned closure of a Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) processing plant in St. Albans, Vermont. U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III issued the five-day order following a complaint by Teamsters Local 597, which alleges the shutdown is an illegal act of retaliation for a strike held last year.

The union claims an internal memo identified “union decertification” as the primary reason for the closure. While DFA lawyers have dismissed the memo as “fake” and stated the idling is due to broader operational and network changes, the union maintains the decision is punitive.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders visited the site to rally support for the workers, describing the potential closure as “devastating” for the local dairy economy and the Franklin County community. A district court hearing is scheduled to determine if a longer stay will be granted to resolve the grievances in accordance with collective bargaining agreements.