The St. Albans Creamery Supply store on Federal Street in St. Albans on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Photo by Bear Savage/VTDigger ST. ALBANS — In light of the recent idling of a dairy processing plant in St. Albans, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., visited the site Wednesday to rally support for unionized workers, who have described the shutdown as an illegal act of retaliation. Against the backdrop of the facility and speaking to the media, Sanders described Dairy Farmers of America’s decision to close the plant as having a devastating impact on workers, farmers and the Franklin County community. The plant “has been an important part of Vermont’s dairy economy and a critical source of decent-paying jobs that workers are extremely proud of,” he said. “While workers, farmers and community members are left searching for concrete answers and security, DFA is refusing to engage in a meaningful discussion with the union and the community and provide a transparent rationale for its decision to idle this plant,” he said.  “Bottom line: This plant is vital to dairy farmers,” Sanders added. “It’s vital, vital to this entire community. It must not be closed, and I stand with the Teamsters to do everything that we can to make sure that it is not closed.” Monday was the day DFA set for the plant’s idling. But after a complaint filed Friday by the Teamsters Local No. 597, claiming that the decision to close the plant was related to last year’s strike and therefore illegal, U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III on Monday issued a temporary restraining order to halt the closure for five days. The district court will hold a hearing Thursday afternoon, where the union will argue for a longer stay until its grievances have been resolved in keeping with the collective bargaining agreements made with DFA. “The Teamsters will not allow DFA to punish our members for exercising their rights,” said Curtis Clough, president of the Teamsters Local 597, at the rally. “If DFA thinks they can get away with this, they are picking a fight with the wrong workers, the wrong community, the wrong union and the wrong state.”  As soon as Sanders finished speaking to the media, he turned and spoke directly to the workers, who had been gathered behind him for the press conference. He offered his support and asked questions, listening as they described some of their experiences as the plant started to close down in recent weeks. Multiple workers described a marked worsening in their treatment at the plant after the latest union contract was signed last fall and leading up to the plant’s idling. “Hang in there,” Sanders said to the workers at the rally. “Thank you all for what you’re doing.” U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., rallied in support of unionized Dairy Farmers of America workers, calling for the plant to remain open. A federal judge this week ordered DFA to temporarily halt plans to idle the plant. Video by Bear Savage/VTDigger The workers then went to try to clock in, but Clough said the doors to the plant were locked. The Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance, in a July statement, said the closure of the plant in St. Albans and Franklin Foods in Enosburg Falls would mean the loss of about 150 jobs in Franklin County. The alliance also said costs will rise for farmers as more milk gets transported out of state to be processed.  Sanders and U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., wrote a letter Tuesday to DFA President and CEO Dennis Rodenbaugh urging the co-op to keep the St. Albans plant open and reach a fair agreement with the union. DFA issued a statement in response Wednesday saying, “In June, the Cooperative informed both senatorial offices of the planned idling and have also reconfirmed the timeline in ongoing communications. It is disappointing and causes unnecessary confusion that a rally would be held asking to reverse this decision after the idling has already taken place.” In a letter responding to Sanders and Welch on Wednesday, Rodenbaugh said, “Abiding by your request to maintain the plant’s operations and tremendous level of ongoing financial losses would inflict direct and irreparable financial harm to Vermont dairy farmers and all DFA farmer-owners and their families in the surrounding region.” “The sole rationale for this plant closure is to protect these farm families from the financial damage of an unviable plant and provide them with an opportunity to participate in the best milk markets available in the region,” Rodenbaugh continued, saying the closure decision had been “grossly” mischaracterized.  In closing, he wrote: “The U.S. farmer is already under tremendous pressure. We would ask and appreciate any support, including passage of a critical Farm Bill.” Read the story on VTDigger here: Sanders rallies at St. Albans dairy processing plant, calling its closure ‘devastating’. ...read more read less