National Farm Worker Ministry an interfaith organization supporting farm workers as they organize for justice member organizations include nearly 40 national, state and local religious bodies
TACO BELL BOYCOTT ENDS IN VICTORY!! CIW & Taco Bell Sign Agreement
The groundbreaking agreement was announced at a press conference on March 8, in Louisville, KY, home of Taco Bell parent company, YUM! Brands. Congratulations to CIW for their faith-filled persistence in calling the fast food company to responsibility for conditions in the fields, and toTaco Bell for agreeing to work with CIW in improving those conditions.
Thanks to all of you who have helped in this campaign!
HISTORY OF CAMPAIGN: The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) spearheaded the national Taco Bell boycott, calling on Taco Bell to take responsibility for labor and human rights abuses in the fields where it buys its tomatoes.
The workers, the Coalition and their supporters asked Taco Bell to:
Participate in 3-way talks between the company, tomato suppliers and representatives of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers Increase the per-pound rate it pays for tomatoes immediately, with the agreement from suppliers to pass this increase along to the workers Work with tomato suppliers and CIW to establish a code of conduct that would ensure workers' fundamental rights
The immigrant farm workers of Immokalee, Florida were paid only 40-45 cents for every 32 pounds tomatoes used by Taco Bell. They earned an average $7,500 per year, according to the Department of Labor. Their wages had remained unchanged for more than 20 years. Sub-poverty wages, no right to overtime pay, no health insurance and no benefits are everyday realities.
Conditions in the fields run the gamut from sweatshops to slavery. In the past five years the U.S. Department of Justice has prosecuted five multi-state farm slavery rings involving over 1,000 workers. CIW assisted the DOJ in the investigation and prosecution of four of the cases.
TAKE ACTION: Write, to Taco Bell's parent company: Board of Directors, Yum! Brands Inc., 1441 Gardiner Lane, Louisville, KY 40213. Thank them for taking leadership in their industry and tell them you'll be watching how the agreement is implemented.
Send a copy of your letter to Taco Bell: Mr. Emil J. Brolick, President and Chief Concept Officer, Taco Bell Corp., 17901 Von Karman, Irvine, California 92614. Phone: 949-863-4500. Fax: 949-863-4537
Human Rights & the Struggle for Fair Food-Making Dr. King's Dream Our Reality: A Faith-Based Symposium, January 15 & 16, 2005 in Immokalee, FL More information
2005 Taco Bell Truth Tour, February 28 - March 12, 2005
Major rally Saturday, March 12, YUM headquarters in Louisville, KY
For details and how you can participate: workers@ciw-online.org
In November, Cal State University San Bernadino became the 21st school to "Boot the Bell"! That's three schools in the last three months alone -- Notre Dame, UCLA, and CSUSB -- to tell Taco Bell that social responsibility is the price of admission to do business in their communities!
