Sign and Circulate Petition to End Modern-Day Slavery and Sweatshops in the Fields

Taking a page out of history, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers has launched a petition campaign calling on Burger King and other food industry leaders to work with the CIW to pay a penny more per pound to farmworkers harvesting tomatoes and to establish a enforceable, human-rights based code of conduct to end modern-day slavery and other abuses in the fields.  The petition puts the industry on notice that signatories “are prepared to stop patronizing Burger King now and other food industry leaders in the future, should they fail to do so.” 

Presbyterians across the country are already hard at work collecting signatures and drawing attention to the exploitative effect that the purchasing practices of Burger King and other retail food corporations are having on the men and women who harvest our tomatoes. [Read more and take action.]

Little girl with BK sign. Photo courtesy of CIW.

Take action for fair food

Join Oxfam’s Online Petition to Burger King

Over 28,000 people have signed this petition urging Burger King to work with the CIW. You can add your name by visiting the Act Oxfam America Web site.

Send an Email to BK Executives

Drop off a Manager’s Letter to Your Local Burger King

Stop by your local Burger King restaurant and give this letter to the manager.  Encourage the manager to contact Burger King Corporate Headquarters and let them know that you and your consumers want them to join with Taco Bell and McDonald’s as leaders in true corporate social responsibility by working with the CIW to improve wages and working conditions in the tomato fields of their Florida suppliers.
Download the letter here.

Sign and mail postcards to Burger King’s CEO

This is an easy and important action through which you can educate and involve your whole congregation, youth group and friends. The postcard message calls on Burger King to work with the CIW to improve wages and working conditions in the tomato fields, just as Taco Bell has done.  To order postcards contact Interfaith Action, the religious support team for the CIW. Email Interfaith Action or call (239)657-8311.

Write to Burger King’s CEO, John Chidsey

Write to Mr. Chidsey and let him know that as a Presbyterian and as a consumer you want to be sure that the food you purchase from Burger King is produced in a way that ensures the human rights of the farmworkers who harvest Burger King’s tomatoes.  Remember too, that Burger King’s target market is students and they especially what you think.  So children, youth, and young adults be sure to tell Mr. Chidsey who you are when you right.

Mr. John Chidsey, CEO
Burger King Corporation
5505 Blue Lagoon Drive
Miami, FL 33126

Send a letter to CIW and to McDonald’s Commending Their Agreement

This is a very meaningful way to let the farmworkers and the company know that Presbyterians are pleased that they’ve achieved this important agreement and are ready to work to bring the rest of the fast-food industry on board.  To get ideas for your letter, take a look at what Stated Clerk, the Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, said.

Coalition of Immokalee Workers
PO Box 603
Immokalee, FL 34143

Mr. Jim Skinner, CEO
McDonald’s Corporation
McDonald’s Plaza
Oak Brook, IL 60523