 Editorial condemns convicted slaver back in business in Florida - Ft. Myers New- Press, December 18, 2005
 This powerful editorial concludes: "Until big, respectable names start being linked with 'forced labor camps' and 'slavery,' the whole wink-and-a-nod system will continue to be a profitable, if inhumane way to get cheap fruits and vegetables to fast food chains, restaurants and our dinner tables."
Wal-Mart has stopped selling Ag-Mart tomatoes - December, 2005
The nation's largest retailer has stopped selling Santa Sweets grape tomatoes because of hundreds of pesticide violations in Florida and North Carolina at the tomato's grower, Ag-Mart Produce.
Costco Wholesale Corp., the nation's largest warehouse club operator, confirmed that its stores had stopped selling Santa Sweets grown in Florida.
More information on AgMart, pesticide abuse and birth defects in Florida
NFWM calls on McDonald's to work with CIW to improve lives of farm workers - December, 2005
"If McDonald's is honest about its insistence that suppliers adhere to these principles, it should not rely on a system such as SAFE whose founders include growers who have been violating these principles for years." NFWM Statement on McDonald's (pdf)
National Council of Churches and United Students Against Sweatshops have also taken a stand in support of CIW's McDonalds campaign.
Protests at Bank of the West support workers at Threemile Canyon Dairy - December 2, 2005
Farm workers and supporters passed out leaflets at 12 Bank of the West locations in Oregon, Washingon and California asking the bank to use its influence as a major lender to urge the dairy to stop discriminating against women
CIW and FLOC win prestigious Benny Award for corporate campaigns - November 2, 2005
The Business Ethics Network granted their Benny Awards to CIW, for its Taco Bell campaign, and by FLOC for the Mt. Olive Pickle Boycott campaign.
The award recognizes outstanding organizational achievements in the advancement of corporate ethics and includes a cash prize of $10,000.
AgMart fined in 2 states for pesticide violations
Three women who worked there gave birth last winter to children with birth defects.
Publix supermarkets stops selling AgMart tomatoes in its 866 stores in five states. They want to do a more thorough investigation
[more]
Grape workers win $1.7 million settlement - San Jose Mercury News, October 4, 2005
Farmworkers who sued their employer after being forced to work unpaid hours in California's grape fields have been awarded $1.7 million by a Fresno federal judge.
Petition: Close farms' loophole on pollution -- The Oregonian, November 2, 2005
On November 1, 2005, the UFW joined seven environmental and other groups asking the federal Environmental Protection Agency to step in and force the state to apply its air quality laws to major agricultural operations. [more]
UFW files complaint alleging intimidation during union vote - September, 2005
Grape pickers at Giumarra Vineyards in the Central Valley of California say they were told they could lose their jobs or their housing if they voted to unionize in a contested election held in early September. The Mercury News, September 12, 2005
Boycott of Gallo Wine Called by UFW - June, 2005
Boycott Gallo Wines, UFW Will Say - Modesto Bee, June 14, 2005
UFW Ready to Boycott Gallo - Again - Sacramento Bee, June 14, 2005
Federal Raid Part of Crackdown Against Abuse of Farmworkers in Florida - Miami Herald, June 5, 2005
Ronald Evans, the boss at one of North Florida's largest labor camps, and three associates face charges in a case federal authorities say is likely to grow much larger.
Authorities say drugs, beer and cigarettes continue to be used as a lure to keep laborers there, with the vice draining their checks and keeping them in debt to labor bosses.
National Council of Churches calls on fast food chains to act like Taco Bell - June 1, 2005
The executive board calls on fast food chains to follow the lead of Taco Bell to guarantee the human rights of farm workers in their supply chains
NCC Press Release
Florida Pesticide Regulation Deplorably Ineffective - Palm Beach Post Editorial, May 1, 2005
Read article
Contractor gets 46 months in prison for 'despicable' abuse of farm labor - Buffalo News, May 27, 2005
District Judge William M. Skretny called Garcia's conduct a "despicable" abuse of vulnerable people.
Federal prosecutors accused Garcia of housing migrants with as many as 11 people sharing one bedroom. Some workers were paid less than 13 cents an hour and were threatened with violence if they tried to leave
AgJOBS Finally Gets Vote in Senate - April 19, 2005
AgJOBS won 53 votes on April 19 but did not gain the 60 votes needed to end a fillibuster
Congressional sponsors will continue to push for passage
Article at AllHeadline News
UFW press Release
Migrants Working in the Shadows - News Journal, March, 2005
An excellent 4- part special report on the lack of enforcement of the laws protecting immigrant workers in Florida ferneries.
Editorial: Hypocrisy down on the farm as owners, public profit off immigrants
THREE BABIES WITH SEVERE BIRTH DEFECTS BORN TO MOTHERS IN ONE FARM WORKER CAMP - March 15, 2005
The babies were born in December, 2004 and February, 2005.
The mothers live within 200 feet of each other at a migrant camp in Immokalee, FL. All six parents picked tomatoes for Ag-Mart Produce.
Naples Daily News - 3/15/05
Palm Beach Post Editorial - 3/20/05
Tests on Washington Farm Workers Reveal Routine Pesticide Exposure - February, 2005
Pesticides are causing major nervous system changes in one of five workers who regularly handle them
A medical monitoring program to protect pesticide handlers should be instituted nationwide
Oregon's largest processor of fruits and vegetables is backing AgJOBS - Statesman Journal, April 12, 2005
Norpac Foods Inc. has asked Oregon's congressional delegation to support the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act of 2005
NORTH CAROLINA ACTIVISTS CALL FOR REFORMS IN FARM WORKER HOUSING - April 6, 2005
"Housing standards are better for inmates," said Lori Khamala of the National Farm Worker Ministry in Durham. "We don't think that good growers should have any problem with this [bill], because they're already doing these things."
The News & Observer - 4/6/05
NY TIMES OP-ED ON FAST FOOD & HUMAN RIGHTS -- April 6, 2005
Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation, concludes, "Taco Bell deserves credit for acknowledging its responsibility on this issue. Now McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's and Yum's other brands need to do the same.
New York Times - 4/6/05
CESAR CHAVEZ DAY EVENTS CONTINUE THRU APRIL 2
Listing from Cesar Chavez Foundation of events in Califorinia, Texas and Arizona
Download a legal-sized poster of Cesar Chavez for your home, church or workplace.
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