Pasco-based companies Greenridge Farms and Baker Produce have agreed to shell out $470,000 as a settlement in a civil rights lawsuit related to the fight against workplace sexual harassment led by Attorney General Bob Ferguson. The lawsuit exposed a pattern of sexual assault and harassment aimed at female farmworkers by a supervisor, Antonio “Junior” Garcilazo, and purported retaliation against those who dared to resist or report his unwelcome advances.
The $470,000 resolution, as reported by the Office of the Attorney General, ensures that all proceeds directly benefit the four women whose courage in coming forward brought these injustices to light. This victory arrives after the workers contended with harassment that began as early as 2018 and persisted until the termination of the supervisor in March 2024—with the companies being held responsible for his behavior owing to his position of authority.
Attorney General Ferguson criticized the companies for their ineffectual response to the supervisor's known predatory behavior. “These companies knew that this manager was harassing and assaulting their employees, but did not stop it,” Ferguson said. “He abused his authority over these women for sexual favors. These workers deserved to be heard. All workers should have a safe work environment free from abuse,” according to the Office of the Attorney General.
In addition to the monetary penalty, Greenridge Farms and Baker Produce are barred from ever re-employing Garcilazo and are ordered to develop new anti-discrimination and sexual harassment policies within 60 days. These policies must include procedures for anonymous reporting of discrimination or harassment, available in the workers' primary languages. The revelations stemmed from an investigation sparked by complaints received through the Northwest Justice Project in June 2023.
The allegations against Garcilazo described by the women were severe, including rape, physical assault, and persistent sexual harassment. One of the victims even faced reduced working hours after reporting multiple rapes and assaults—a case that was forwarded to Franklin County prosecutors by law enforcement in July 2023, though no charges have been filed yet. A second woman who had hoped to find employment with Greenridge Farms was harassed, assaulted, and later fired within two months of filing a complaint after enduring Garcilazo's persistent unwanted advances.
These incidents highlight a disturbing trend identified by Ferguson's Civil Rights Division, which has brought successful actions against several companies to stop sexual harassment and discrimination against farmworkers. Examples include a $3.4 million settlement from Ostrom Mushroom Farms and a $350,000 resolution with Great Columbia Berry Farms. These and other cases exemplify ongoing struggles and the state's efforts to address them, as also underscored in the educational guides produced by the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division to inform Washingtonians of their rights against sexual harassment in the workplace.
