November 18: Day of Remembrance to End Modern-Day Slavery

CIW families and people of faith light candles to remember slavery case. Photo courtesy of CIW.

In the early hours of November 18, 2007, farmworker Mariano Lucas hung from the ceiling inside the cargo hold of a box truck in Immokalee and punched his way through the ventilation hatch. Mariano and the other farmworkers who escaped on Nov. 18 had been held captive and forced to work picking tomatoes for over a year. They were chained, beaten and locked inside of a cargo truck at night. Then, on Nov. 18 they escaped and started a process that would lead to freedom for the others in their case and the prosecution of the supervisors who enslaved them. This November 18, on the two-year anniversary of Mariano's escape, we invite you to join people of faith across the country in lighting a candle and praying for an end to modern-day slavery in the fields. For resources and sample prayers for this day of prayer and remembrance, visit the Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida Web site.

National Week of Action Nov. 18-25:  Grocery Campaign

November 18-25 is a National Week of Action to call on the supermarket industry to be part of the solution to farmworker poverty and slavery.  Publix, Kroger and Ahold (owner of Stop & Shop and Giant) have yet to work with the CIW to enforce zero tolerance for modern-day slavery and a code of conduct against human rights abuses in the fields.  From Nov. 18-25th, we invite you to join with people across the country in delivering letters to the manager of a supermarket near you. Learn more →

CIW wins the BENNY, Brigitte Gynther wins the Cardinal Bernadin Award

Brigitte Gynther speaking with Romeo Ramirez at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, Fla. Photo courtesy of CIW

The Business Ethics Network has presented the CIW and the Campaign for Fair Food its 2009 Benny Award.  A co-winner with the Yoplait “Put a lid on it,” these two campaigns were honored for achieving significant corporate transformation over the past year.

Brigitte Gynther of Interfaith Action , the Immokalee-based group that coordinates religious support for the CIW, has been selected as the 2009 Cardinal Bernadin New Leadership Award.  The award will be presented on Nov. 16 at the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops.  The Award honors a Catholic between the ages of 18 and 30 who demonstrates leadership in fighting poverty and injustice in the United States through community-based solutions. It is named for the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, former Archbishop of Chicago and a leading voice on behalf of poor and low-income people, who understood the need to build bridges across ethnic, economic, class and age barriers."

Publix Month of Action

A protester demonstrates outside a Publix store. Photo by Miami New Times

During October and November, Florida Presbyterians joined people of faith and consumers of conscience in cities across the state, calling on Publix to work with the CIW to improve wages and working conditions.  With willing growers, a proven model and six of the largest retail food corporations in the nation already working with the CIW, consumers are sending Publix the message “it’s never been easier to support fair food.” The peaceful demonstrations at Publix grocery stores at which representatives have dropped off manager’s letters and discussed our concerns, have been buttressed by a number of powerful opinion pieces by local clergy.  Get a full report on the actions.

CIW, Compass Group announce advances for farmworkers

PC(USA) joins U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis in lauding the accord

Secretary Solis congratulates Oscar Otzoy of CIW. Photo courtesy of CIW.

September 2009 – On Friday, September 25, 2009, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and Compass Group announced an historic agreement at a press conference in Washington, D.C. Characterized as “huge” in its impact and implications by U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Compass, the leading food service corporation in the United States, announced it will pay farmworkers an additional penny per pound for tomatoes harvested with the ultimate goal of a guaranteed fair minimum wage. Compass has also worked with the CIW to develop a robust code of conduct for its suppliers that will improve working conditions and guarantee transparency through third party monitoring. With East Coast Growers and Packers prepared to implement this agreement and prior agreements with food corporations this season, Lucas Benitez of CIW called on food industry leaders Publix, Kroger, Aramark and Sodexo to get behind the movement for Fair Food. [Read more]

East Coast Growers and Packers to implement Coalition of Immokalee Workers' fair food agreements

Workers harvest tomatoes. Photo courtesy of Scott Robertson.

September 2009 – With the start of the new season only weeks away, East Coast Growers and Packers — one of Florida's largest tomato growers — has agreed to work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and food industry leaders to implement the CIW's Fair Food agreements, including the penny-per-pound raise to harvesters, supply chain transparency and a stringent code of conduct.

The agreements — six in all, among them the world's four largest restaurant companies and the leading organic grocer — had been held up for nearly two years by the resistance of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange (FTGE), the powerful industry lobby. Read the full story.

Sarasota Presbyterians Organize Ride to Publix Stores

Cyclist gather in front of a Publix store for the Labor Day Freedom Rid. Photo courtesy of Interfaith Action.

September 2009 – This Labor Day, at the invitation of allies at the First Presbyterian Church in Sarasota, several farmworkers from Immokalee along with allies from Interfaith Action ventured two hours north to take part in a unique demonstration — a "Labor Day Freedom Ride" during which they delivered manager’s letters to Publix stores! Check out the video report on the ride.

This delegation was done by bicycle, with almost two dozen people — the Rev. Clay Thomas and several members of the First Presbyterian Church, students from New College and deejays from community radio station WSLR, among others — riding 10 miles to deliver letters to managers at Publix stores.

The ride started in the church parking lot, where Leonel Perez of the CIW explained to participants the significance of the agreements reached by the CIW with food industry leaders. He told those gathered about the unimaginable brutality of the recently prosecuted slavery operation, where farmworkers in Immokalee were locked in box trucks, beaten, stabbed and physically restrained by their crewleaders. The enslaved men were taken to work on area tomato farms, including Florida tomato industry leaders Six L´s and Pacific. While this slavery case caused Whole Foods Market to cut their contracts with both growers immediately, Publix continues to source their tomatoes from both Six L’s and Pacific and has publicly declined to work with the CIW to address modern-day slavery in the fields. 

Photo courtesy of C.I.W.

Grocery Campaign

August 2009 – Join people of faith across the country in calling on three of the largest grocery chains in the nation, Publix, Kroger and Ahold, to work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to end exploitation and modern-day slavery in the Florida tomato fields. [Learn more]

Two Florida Growers to Pass Penny to Farmworkers

June 2009 – Alderman Farms and Lady Moon Farms have reached agreements with Whole Foods Market to fully implement the principles of the Campaign for Fair Food, effectively breaking the stalemate established nearly two seasons ago when the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange threatened to fine any of its members that sold tomatoes under the terms of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers' agreements.  At that time, two Florida growers who had been passing on the penny-per-pound increase under the Taco Bell agreement ceased doing so.

Farmworkers harvest tomatoes in Florida. Photo courtesy of CIW

As Lucas Benitez of the CIW explained, "The Campaign for Fair Food is bearing fruit. For nearly two seasons, the Campaign’s promise of fair wages for Florida's farmworkers has been held hostage by the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange. Today, however, the higher wages and fairer conditions we have fought for will begin to reach the workers who so clearly deserve them, thanks to the leadership of Whole Foods Market and the forward thinking growers at Alderman Farms and Lady Moon Farms. Without a doubt, the food market is changing, and for the better. Sustainability, social as well as environmental, is the way of the future. Together we — as farmworkers, farmers and buyers — are forging a path toward that better future."

Karen Christensen of Whole Foods Market — the first supermarket to sign an agreement with the CIW — noted, “Lady Moon and Alderman Farms are examples of Florida growers that Whole Foods Market is proud to support. These farms are long term partners of Whole Foods Market and we look forward to continued growth together."  

For more details, read the joint CIW-Whole Foods press release as well as statements from Senators Durbin and Sanders.

CIW and Bon Appétit Forge Agreement!

April 2009 – The CIW and sustainable foodservice leader Bon Appétit Management Company have forged a new model for fair labor standards in Florida's tomato fields! The new model for advancing farmworkers’ rights includes a new “minimum fair wage” provision, new practices to protect against wage fraud, worker empowerment, worker safety and third-party monitoring that also involves farmworkers. Learn more.

Gov. Crist Supports the CIW’s Campaign for Fair Food

Governor Charlie Crist of Florida.

March 2009 – In a letter to the CIW, Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida committed himself to advancing farmworker human rights through the CIW’s Campaign for Fair Food encouraging members of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange to ensure the wage increase from major tomato buyers reaches the farmworkers. Read Gov. Crist’s public letter to the CIW.

Read the commendation to Gov. Crist from the Rev. Noelle Damico of the PC(USA) Campaign for Fair Food.

Subway and CIW reach agreement

December 2008 – On December 2 Subway signed an agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to improve farmworkers' wages and address human rights abuses in the fields of its Florida tomato suppliers!

CIW and Subway representatives sign agreement. Photo courtesy of CIW

The Rev. Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA), released a public statement commending Subway and the CIW saying:

Will the rest of the restaurant and grocery industry now step forward to become part of this momentous advance for human rights? The answer is not only up to the companies but to those of us who are conscious consumers as well.

As Presbyterians join Christians around the world in celebrating the season of Advent, a time when we keep watch for Christ to usher in a “new heaven and a new earth,” this agreement reminds us of our call to be a part of creating a just society. So as we commend and celebrate this moment, the Presbyterian Church renews its commitment to working with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and colleagues in the Alliance for Fair Food to ensure that the gains achieved with this agreement are finally realized throughout the retail food and agricultural industries. [Read full statement ]

The CIW's tour will continue to journey through North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, Providence, New Haven and New York City in the coming week, however the focus will shift from Subway to the rest of the food industry. Now that Subway, the largest fast-food buyer of Florida tomatoes, has joined Yum!, McDonald's, Burger King and Whole Foods Market in working with the CIW, it's time for the rest of the grocery and fast-food corporations to join their counterparts and partner with the CIW to elevate human rights for farmworkers in their own supply chains.

We encourage Presbyterians to write letters of commendation to both Subway and the CIW.

Read the Presbyterian News Service story.

Five Plead Guilty to Enslaving Farmworkers

Photo courtesy of CIW.

September 2008 – Through the heroic and tireless efforts of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, law enforcement and the U.S. Department of Justice, another case of modern-day slavery has successfully been brought to justice.

Yesterday, at federal court in Fort Myers, Fla., farm bosses from Immokalee pleaded guilty to "numerous charges of enslaving Mexican and Guatemalan immigrants, brutalizing them and forcing them to work in farm fields." ("Five to plead guilty on charges of enslaving immigrant laborers," Fort Myers News Press, Sept. 2, 2008). [Read more]

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