The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is social movement (calling itself "a community-based worker organization") whose members are "largely Latino, Haitian, and Mayan Indian immigrants working in low-wage jobs throughout the state of Florida." Structured along the lines of a "workers' center" model, the Coalition seeks to involve its members in working on behalf of their interests. Formed in 1993, the organization has seen major successes, including an historical agreement with Taco Bell in March 2005 and various ongoing anti-slavery actions.

Contents 1 History 2 Resistance to "Penny a Pound" agreements 3 See also 4 References 4.1 Sources 5 External links

[edit] History

In 2001, the CIW launched a boycott of Taco Bell, asking the company to take responsibility for the working conditions and wages of the farmworkers that supply the company's tomatoes. During the campaign, called "Boot the Bell," the CIW worked closely with religious and community groups and a student network, the Student/Farmworker Alliance, to pressure Taco Bell from different social angles. On March 8, 2005, Yum! Brands, Inc., which owns Taco Bell, agreed to all of the organization's demands, including the CIW’s requests that the company pay a penny more per pound of tomatoes to increase workers' wages. Yum! will also work with the CIW to enforce a code of conduct to monitor worker complaints and avoid abuses in the fields.^[1][2]

A year after the Taco Bell boycott, the CIW announced a campaign asking McDonald’s to agree to similar terms as Yum! Brands, Inc. The CIW called on McDonald’s to pay an increased price for its tomatoes and work directly with the CIW to implement an enforceable code of conduct. In response to the CIW’s requests, McDonald’s created a code of conduct that the CIW deemed insufficient. Later, on April 9, 2007, an agreement was brokered between McDonalds and CIW, with help from the Carter Center, that included the penny increase for Florida tomatoes. Pickers were paid about 45 cents for every 32-pound (14.5 kg) bucket of fruit they pick, which will now be raised to 77 cents.^[3]

In May 2008, Burger King announced its own support for the "Penny a Pound" measure. Burger King had originally strongly opposed the measure, even going so far as to hire a private investigative firm to provide information on organizations involved in the campaign. As part of the announcement, Burger King’s chief executive, John W. Chidsey, apologized for prior negative remarks directed towards the CIW. He went on to praise the group's social efforts.^[4]

In September 2008, Whole Foods Market also signed an agreement with the CIW to support the penny-per-pound standard in Florida agriculture. Karen Christensen, a spokesperson for the market explained, “We commend the CIW for their advocacy on behalf of these workers. After carefully evaluating the situation in Florida, we felt that an agreement of this nature was in line with our core values and was in the best interest of the workers.”^[5][6] The Whole Foods agreement marked the first time a corporation agreed to support the CIW initiative without extended public protests.

Another company targeted by the CIW is Chipotle Mexican Grill. The CIW has been pressuring Chipotle since 2006, and began actively protesting the company in 2008. However, only 20% of Chipotle's tomatoes come from Florida, and only 5% come from the Immokalee. Also, Chipotle claims that the farms are monitored for standards compliance.^[7]

The CIW also works in partnership with Interfaith Action, a broad-based network of people of faith, both in southwest Florida and throughout the nation.^[8]

According to its official website:

The CIW is also a co-founder of the national Freedom Network Institute on Human Trafficking. We are Regional Coordinators for the Southeastern US for the Institute, conducting trainings for law enforcement and social service personnel in how to identify and assist slavery victims, as well as advocating for the full prosecution of all traffickers, including corporations and their sub-contractors. At the state level, we are members of the US Attorney Anti-Trafficking Task Force as well as Florida State University’s statewide Working Group against Human Trafficking through its Center for the Advancement of Human Rights.

In 2003, the CIW was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award for its work, and in 2007 it was awarded the Anti-Slavery Award ^[9].

[edit] Resistance to "Penny a Pound" agreements

According to a 2007 Chicago Tribune story, the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange is contesting the agreements the Coalition made with McDonald's and Yum! Brands, Inc. The point was made that neither McDonald's nor Yum! Brands grows any tomatoes or hires any pickers. McDonald's and Yum! Brands affirmed their intention to carry out the agreement and a spokesman for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers affirmed her confidence that it would be, citing the possibility of key growers breaking ranks. ^[10] On April 15, 2008, the United States United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held hearings on Ending Abuses and Improving Working Conditions for Tomato Workers in which Reggie Brown, spokeperson for the FTGE claimed farmworkers earned an average wage of "between $10.50 and $14.86 per hour."^[11] Senator Bernie Sanders (Ind, Vermont) disputed Brown's claim by citing contradictory evidence and asked if the FTGE would cooperate if the Senate decided to conduct a financial audit of growers' payroll records. Brown stated that, although the FTGE would be willing to cooperate, the organization itself is a growers cooperative and does not have access to the financial records of private growers.^[12]

[edit] See also

• Social Movement Unionism
• Chicano
• Student/Farmworker Alliance
• United Students Against Sweatshops
• Immokalee
• Young Democratic Socialists

[edit] References

[edit] Sources

• Bowe, John. "Nobodies: Does Slavery Exist in America?" Online posting. The New Yorker Apr. 2003. (Pdf file.)
• Miguel, Tracy X. [1]

[edit] External links

• Coalition of Immokalee Workers official website