News and photos page three

CIW to visit Denver and Chicago

Chicago Presbytery members joined in the McDonald's Truth Tour. Photo by Gary Cozette.

Members of CIW will visit Denver, home of Mexican-style fast food corporation, Chipotle, for educational meetings with congregations, universities, labor and community groups September 13-21. A representative from Interfaith Action, the religious support group of the CIW, will be visiting McDonald’s hometown of Chicago September 12-20, to continue to build on the great support of the religious, student and labor communities for the Campaign for Fair Food. If you’re from Denver or Chicago and would like to connect with CIW or Interfaith Action during their visits, contact the Rev. Noelle Damico, Associate for Fair Food, at (631)751-7076.

Labor Day Sunday 2006

Lectionary Commentary And Prayers

Labor Day Sunday is a great time to lift up themes of fair food and worker justice in your congregation.

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s General Assembly strengthens partnership with CIW

Lucas Benitez addresses the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s 217th General Assembly. Photo by Jeff Geary.

On June 23, 2006, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s 217th General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution supporting Ongoing Work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Campaign for Fair Food. The resolution affirms the church's partnership with the CIW and authorizes its General Assembly Council to support consumer action such as a boycott if it is in concert with our church's boycott criteria and in partnership with the Alliance for Fair Food.

Following the supportive vote, Lucas Benitez rose to address the packed Assembly, exclaiming, "Farmworkers are also people of faith like you, and we are partners in mission with the Presbyterian Church. Our mission is to transform the corporate food and agricultural industries into a fair food system that ensures human rights."

He thanked the church for its leadership during the successful Taco Bell boycott noting, "The church is absolutely necessary in this cause because of the power and credibility it has with corporations." He underscored the importance of the church's moral and consumer power.

Lucas Benitez presents a photo of outstreched farmworker hands to moderator Joan Gray. Photo by Jeff Geary.

The General Assembly took place in Birmingham, Ala., one of the hearts of the civil rights struggle. "Being here (in Birmingham), he said, "reminds me of what Dr. King said a few days before his death; that he had reached the mountain top and that he had seen the Promised Land and he knew we would all get there together as one single society. I am here today to tell you that we are closer to that vision's becoming a reality."

As over 700 people rose to their feet in a standing ovation, Lucas presented the newly elected moderator, the Rev. Joan Gray, a photo of outstreched farmworker hands.

ACREC takes resolution supporting CIW and Fair Food to GA

The Advocacy Committee for Racial Ethnic Concerns submitted a resolution to the 217th General Assembly in Birmingham supporting the work of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Campaign for Fair Food. The resolution grounds a reaffirmation of the use of consumer action as an expression of our beliefs in God's abundant creation, our call to steward that creation, and our responsibility to our neighbors who are being oppressed.

The full text: ACREC Resolution in Support of Ongoing Partnership Work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Campaign for Fair Food

McDonald’s Tomato Study Denounced: Experts Call on McD’s to Work with CIW

May 22, 2006 — McDonald’s commissioned the Center for Reflection Action and Education to produce a study of McDonald’s tomato supply chain. The aim of the study was to show that McDonald’s current practices “exceed the penny-per-pound proposal” of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. The study has been strongly denounced by labor experts and more than 30 social science experts for faulty data, methodology and conclusions. Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich was among those who have called for McDonald’s to abandon its public relations strategy and work with the CIW to address the human rights crisis in Florida’s fields.

The new Alliance for Fair Food will raise awareness of modern-day slavery in Florida's farm fields. File photo by Evan Silverstein.

The founding members of the Alliance for Fair Food, which includes the PC(USA), have released a public statement concurring with the experts’ analysis and calling on McDonald’s to “re-evaluate its approach and change course, instead working as genuine partners with the CIW, the farmworker organization that is a proven, respected force for human rights and voice for the farmworkers.”

• Tomato study prepared by the Center for Reflection Education and Action for McDonald’s.
  [Read the study]
• Response by former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, former NLRB Chairman William B. Gould, and Harvard Labor Law Professor Paul Weiler. [Read the response]
• Response by Dr. Bruce Nissen, director of the Research Institute on Social and Economic Policy at Florida International University, and more than 30 social scientists. [Read the response]

Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) march to Call on Chipotle ensure humane conditions for tomato pickers. Photo courtesy of CIW.

Call on Chipotle to ensure the rights of farm workers

According to its “Food with Integrity” program, Chipotle ensures humane conditions for animals in its supply-chain. Now it’s time for them to do the same for the human beings who pick their tomatoes. Chipotle is a part of the McDonald’s family and McDonald’s holds a controlling interest in the company. Call on Chipotle to work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to improve wages, ensure farm worker participation in the advancement of their rights, and to influence McDonald’s to join Yum! Brands in working with the CIW for real rights for farm workers.

Download a news brief on the Campaign for Fair Food that provides background on the McDonald’s Campaign and the Chipotle initiative.

Sojourner’s Magazine features CIW and PC(USA)

CBS Special on CIW: Sunday, April 23

May 3, 2006 — The Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the PC(USA) were featured on a CBS News religion special which aired Sunday, April 23 entitled "A Fair Harvest: Religion's Response to Immigration Issues.
[Read the CBS press release]

CIW and PC(USA) featured at Associated Church Press Conference

Princeton Theological Seminary, local churches and New Brunswick Presbytery host presentation on Fair Food

CIW presents at Union Theological Seminary

CIW wins prestigious anti-slavery award

March 18, 2006 — The Coalition of Immokalee Workers was awarded the “Wellstone Award” for their ground-breaking work against modern-day slavery by veteran federal prosecutor Lou de Baca of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division at the Freedom Network USA’s annual conference in Chicago. CIW members who are former slaves and who have helped others escape and prosecute their slavers were there to receive the award. The CIW has worked with the U.S. Deptartment of Justice and FBI to investigate and prosecute five cases of modern-day slavery in the fields and free more than 1,000 slaves. Several additional investigations are currently underway.
[For photos click here and then scroll down the page]

Penny wise and pound foolish?

Balky McDonald’s is target of Presbyterians’ letter-writing campaign for tomato pickers

LOUISVILLE — Presbyterians are active in national letter-writing campaigns intended to pressure fast-food giant McDonald’s to improve salaries and labor conditions in its tomato-supply chain. [Read more]

The Taco Bell Boycott is over!

March 8, 2005 — Through the dedicated work of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, its supporters — including Presbyterians — and Yum! Brands executives, an historic agreement has been reached that will enhance the human rights of tomato pickers in Taco Bell's supply chain.

"In accord with actions of the General Assembly, and at the request of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), as Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, I call upon all members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to immediately cease boycotting Taco Bell and to join with the CIW and Yum! Brands in advancing the gains for human rights made today throughout fast-food industry," said Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Clifton Kirkpatrick. [Read more]

Lucas Benitez speaks at the launch of the Alliance for Fair Food. Photo courtesy of CIW.

March 8, 2006 — On the first anniversary of the historic agreement between CIW and Taco Bell that advanced farm workers’ human rights, allies of the CIW launched the Alliance for Fair Food (AFF). The PC(USA) and the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights are among the founding members of the Alliance. The first objective of the AFF is to reform McDonald’s tomato supply chain.

The AFF is a network of human rights, religious, student, labor and grassroots organizations that work in partnership with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to promote principles and practices of socially responsible purchasing in the retail food industry which advance and ensure the human rights of farm workers who labor at the bottom of these corporate supply chains.

AFF endorsing organizations include ecumenical partners such as the United Church of Christ and Pax Christi U.S.A., human rights organizations such as Amnesty International (U.S.), student groups such as USAS and labor organizations such as the AFL-CIO and SEIU.

PC(USA) Joins Alliance for Fair Food

Sept. 24th, 2005 — The General Assembly Council (GAC) voted that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) become a founding member of the Alliance for Fair Food. The Alliance for Fair Food, which is a growing network of religious, NGO, student, labor, community, celebrity, and international passionate allies and institutions, works with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to establish socially responsible purchasing in the corporate food industry, guarantee the human rights of farmworkers and end modern day slavery in the fields. [Read more]

The CIW delegation met with religious leaders at the Geneva Ecumenical Center

Oct. 2005 — On the CIW’s European Tour for fair food, they are meeting in Geneva with representatives from the World Council of Churches, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the Lutheran World Federation and other religious bodies and leaders. [Read more]

Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly and President of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, speaks on the Victory of the Taco Bell boycott in relationship to global trade and poverty. [Read more]

Hurricane Wilma hits Immokalee and south Florida

Wilma caused major damage to Immokalee in Southwest Florida. The fragile housing of the Immokalee farm workers were often the hardest hit.

Oct. 2005 — The CIW, which is based in Immokalee, about 30 minutes due east from Ft. Meyers, Florida, was hit hard by Hurricane Wilma. CIW is working with the county to distribute food and water to farmworkers and their families who live in remote labor camps.

• Read a report from CIW with photos
• Presbyterian News Service article “Wilma Largely Spares Florida Presbyteries”

November 2005 — Thousands of emails from Presbyterians and consumers across the country poured into McDonald’s decrying the company’s decision to work with a newly minted growers group called Socially Accountable Farm Employers (SAFE) rather than with the CIW. Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Clifton Kirkpatrick was among national leaders from religious and human rights organizations who released public statements criticizing the company’s decision.

• Read Clifton Kirkpatrick's public statement [Nov. 23, 2005]
• Bulletin insert discussing SAFE and its limitations
• Background and statements from other national leaders in support of CIW (note: be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page!)

National Council of Churches calls on fast food chains to ensure human rights for farmworkers in their supply chains

June 1, 2005 — The NCC, which is comprised of 36 Protestant and Orthodox Communions (including the PC(USA) representing over 50 million Christians nationwide, has called on Burger King, McDonald's and Subway to follow Taco Bell's lead and meet with the CIW to ensure the highest standards of human rights for farmworkers in their supply chains. [Read more]

"First, they took on Taco Bell. Now, the fast food world."

The CIW and the Campaign for Fair Food was featured in a New York Times article on May 22nd - links to a subscription site.

Browse photographs from the Victory Celebration

CIW and Yum! brands reach historic agreement; a victory for human rights

This agreement is the precedent-setting, first step in achieving industry-wide change. Learn more about the agreement or download the PDF: Bulletin Insert on the Agreement

Moderator's Day in Immokalee

On April 10, 2005, Rick Ufford Chase, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), joined youth and young adults in Immokalee, Fla., for a day of immersion and mission with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. [Read More]

CIW faith-based symposium a huge success

January 2005 — At the symposium entitled "Human Rights and the Struggle for Fair Food: Making Dr. King's Dream Our Reality" over 200 religious leaders and lay people from across Florida and the country came to Immokalee for a two-day conference where participants discussed topics ranging from conditions in Florida's fields to socially- responsible business practices, modern-day slavery, the campaign for Fair Food, and the role of religious allies in the boycott. [Read More]

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