November 7, 2007

November 30: March with Student / Farmworker Alliance to Demand Higher Wages for Burger King's Tomato Pickers

Posted by Kristina Rizga at 7:00PM

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Join the Student / Farmworker Alliance and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) in a nine-mile march, winding through the city of Miami and culminating at Burger King's headquarters.

The Student / Farmworker Alliance and CIW have been fighting for fast-food companies to agree to higher wages for tomato-pickers and to agree to a code of ethics concerning the treatment of the workers. The Student / Farmworker Alliance and CIW have already reached agreements with McDonald's Corporation and Yum! Brands (parent company of Taco Bell), but Burger King has been refusing to meet their demands so far.

The latest campaign focuses on Burger King's refusal to pay one cent more for every pound of tomatoes -- passed directly to the farmworkers -- which would nearly double their current salary of about 40 to 45 cents for each 32 pound bucket of tomatoes. This is practically the same rate that tomato pickers were paid in 1978 for each bucket of tomatoes, according to the CIW.

The Student / Farmworker Alliance and CIW are calling on students and youth from across the country to converge on Miami Nov. 30 - Dec. 1 for a weekend of action and education calling on Burger King to address sweatshop conditions in its tomato supply chain.

Caravans are being organized from cities around Florida and around the country for allies to join the CIW this November 30th in Miami. Don't let transportation concerns keep you from being part of this historic protest. Click here for caravan info., housing registration form, travel tips, and more.

For more background information on the issue and demands, read Wiretap's coverage of farmworkers' winning campaigns against McDonald's in our features Unhappy Meal and Slavery Beneath the Golden Arches?, or visit the website of CIW.