Immokalee Workers Moving Forward In Wake Of Burger King Victory

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/8634

By Doug Cunningham

It took more than a year of hard work, protests and a public campaign, but the Coalition of Immokalee Workers will be able to deliver improved wages and working conditions now for workers picking tomatoes used by Burger King. The giant fast-food chain has agreed to pay a penny more per pound of tomatoes harvested. Similar efforts won higher wages for farm workers from McDonald’s and taco Bell.The Immokalee Workers say the long struggle to get Burger King to pay more for tomatoes has been trying, but he union is prepared now to move forward toward a future of full respect for the human rights for workers in Florida’s tomato fields.

[fasttense]

1. A penny a pound.

How much is a man's soul worth? Obviously to Burger King it is worth a penny a pound. What a sad, greedy, selfish and petty little corporation. When does Burger King start torturing the puppies?

[katherine20]

2. Catholic Bishops Conference Statement on Settlement

BISHOP MURPHY WELCOMES LABOR AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN
BURGER KING AND COALITION OF IMMOKALEE WORKERS

WASHINGTON – The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), a Catholic Campaign for
Human Development (CCHD)-supported organization of migrant farm workers, and the Burger
King Corporation reached a groundbreaking agreement that will increase the price paid to farm
laborers and establishes a code of conduct related to working conditions. The Immokalee,
Florida-based coalition comprises more than 3,300 members throughout rural South Florida,
primarily Latino, Haitian, and Mayan Indian immigrants working in low-wage jobs. Through the
years, the Coalition has received grants from CCHD, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’
(USCCB) anti-poverty program as well as the active support of Florida’s Catholic bishops, in
particular the Diocese of Venice’s Bishop Frank Dewane and Bishop Emeritus John Nevins, in
its struggle for better wages and working conditions.

Bishop William Murphy, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Domestic Justice and
Human Development, issued a statement released at a Capitol Hill briefing attended by
representatives of the Immokalee Workers, supporters and the Burger King Corporation. John
Carr, executive director of the Committee read the statement, calling the agreement “an
important step toward greater justice for farm workers in Florida and a responsible step forward
for Burger King and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.” The agreement reportedly increases
by one cent the per pound price paid to field workers for the produce they gather and provides an
additional half-cent increase to be paid to growers to offset additional administrative expenses.
Additionally, the agreement puts into place a code of conduct that addresses working conditions.
The agreement builds on contracts signed in 2005 between the Immokalee Workers and the
Yum! Brands, the parent company of restaurant corporations such as Taco Bell and KFC, and in
2007 with the McDonald Corporation.

In February, CCHD awarded its annual Sister Margaret Cafferty Development of People
Award to CIW for being an example of empowerment in action. The award is presented
annually by CCHD to a group or individual who best exemplifies a commitment to the
development of people and the elimination of poverty in America.
Bishop Murphy’s complete statement follows:

“The Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops welcomes and applauds the impressive agreement reached
between the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Burger King Corporation. This is an
important step toward greater justice for farm workers in Florida and a responsible step forward
for Burger King and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

“This important agreement has been made possible first and foremost by the persistent
work of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in defending the lives, dignity and rights of farm
workers. Our USCCB Domestic Committee wrote the leaders of Burger King to urge that they
enter into dialogue to reach an agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. We
commend them for their leadership in taking this important step and hope they will serve as an
example for others in the industry.

“The Catholic community has long supported greater justice for farm workers. In this
particular case, the Catholic Bishops of Florida and the Catholic Campaign for Human
Development have provided consistent and concrete support for the Coalition and for the
legitimate demands for justice for farm workers.

“The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops hopes this remarkable agreement will
lead to additional steps toward fair and just treatment for farm workers in Florida and elsewhere.
We urge the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Burger King, tomato growers and their
representatives, other food companies and consumers to actively support and advance-- and
avoid actions which block or limit-- the provisions and promise of this important step forward
for justice and for farm workers.”

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