Bert Perry (right) of National Farm Worker Ministry hands Publix representative a copy of the State Department TIP report.
 
 

On Tuesday, June 29th, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, allies from Interfaith Action and the National Farm Worker Ministry, and a reporter and photographer from the Florida Catholic traveled to Publix corporate headquarters in Lakeland, FL to deliver a copy of the U. S. State Department's recently released "Trafficking in Persons" (TIP) report. The delegation had hoped to get a meeting with Publix representatives to discuss Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's remarks on the urgent need for corporations to take responsibility for cleaning up human rights abuses in their supply chains.

Instead, they were met outside the offices at the security gate, by a Publix employee who said that he had no authority to speak on behalf of Publix. He accepted a copy of the TIP report and, after a brief exchange with NFWM’s Bert Perry, returned to Publix's headquarters with the report.

As the CIW says, “It's time for Publix to stop burying its head in the sand and to heed the growing call for farm labor justice. It's time for Publix to meet with the CIW and join the growing partnership for real supply chain accountability.”

In related news, at the State Department’s 2010 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report ceremony on June 14th, CIW's Laura Germino was recognized as an "anti-Trafficking Hero.” In his introduction of Laura, Ambassador-at-Large Luis CdeBaca said, "There have been many cases exposing servitude for both sex and labor in Florida. And the Coalition of the Immokalee Workers and Laura Germino have always been there. They’ve been important partners and, more importantly, an independent and pressing voice as they uncover slavery rings, tap the power of the workers, and hold companies and governments accountable."

Click HERE to link to the Nation magazine article, Human Trafficking: Not Someone Else's Problem, about Laura Germino’s award and the TIP report.

For more news from the CIW’s Campaign for Fair Food, click HERE.
 
 

As we gear up for this April's Farmworker Freedom March -- and the Florida Modern-Day Slavery Museum continues its historic journey across the state -- allies across the country are already into the national Supermarket Week of Action in the Campaign for Fair Food.

This spring season, take action for Fair Food where you shop by urging Stop & Shop, Giant, Publix, Ralph’s, Kroger and other Kroger-owned grocery chains to address the sub-poverty wages and human rights abuses faced by farmworkers who harvest their tomatoes.

You too can get involved by dropping a Campaign for Fair Food letter off to the store manager of your local major supermarket chain! It's easy to do: Simply download the manager letter here. Then deliver the letter to the manager of your local grocery store and ask the manager to share your concerns with the company’s corporate headquarters.

And if you are interested in joining a picket outside of a supermarket that is already being planned, or organizing one on your own, please contact CIW for more info. Pickets are taking place in the New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Baltimore, and San Francisco Bay areas.

And meanwhile, don't forget the huge Farmworker Freedom March coming up this April 16-18th from Tampa to Lakeland, FL. Check out the march website for everything you need to join us for the three-day march, including key logistics and registration information easy to find on the march site.

Thanks, and see you in Tampa! -- Coalition of Immokalee Workers. For more information visit CIW’s website.
 
 

Here’s the news from Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida …

NFWM had some fantastic news today: Alderman Farms and Lady Moon Farms, two of Florida's largest organic growers, have agreed to pass the penny-per-pound wage increase onto farmworkers!!

Whole Foods Market confirmed today that Alderman Farms and Lady Moon Farms have reached agreements with Whole Foods to support the CIW's penny-per-pound program and meet strict labor standards. This step forward by Alderman Farms and Lady Moon Farms effectively breaks the stalemate established nearly two seasons ago when the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange (FTGE) threatened to fine any of its members that sold tomatoes under the terms of the CIW agreements.

Overview
The National Farm Worker Ministry began working with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in response to a request for support during their month-long hunger strike in 1998. Since that time, NFWM has been active in CIW's campaigns to bring giant fast food corporations, supermarkets and the tomato industry to act as responsible corporations throughout their supply chains.

NFWM is an endorser of the Alliance for Fair Food (AFF). The AFF is a network of human rights, religious, student, labor, sustainable food and agriculture, environmental and grassroots organizations who work in partnership with the CIW. The AFF promotes principles and practices of socially responsible purchasing in the corporate food industry.

The NFWM and the AFF have supported the CIW through advocacy and public action. The AFF, with its partner the Presbyterian Church (USA)Campaign for Fair Food, has three major principles:

• Farm worker wages must immediately increase.
• Farm workers are entitled to participate as full partners in the decisions that affect their lives.
• Any industry-wide Code of Conduct must be developed with the full participation of farm workers.

Modern Day Slavery
NFWM supports the CIW in their fight against modern day slavery in the fields of Florida. There have been seven cases of slavery convictions in Florida in the last decade. The agreements reached by the CIW with YUM Brands, McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway and Whole Foods include a “Code of Conduct” that includes protection of workers rights and freedoms. (http://www.ciw-online.org/slavery.html)

Recently, Florida Governor Charlie Crist met with members of the CIW. In a follow up letter to the CIW he wrote, in part:

• “I have no tolerance for slavery in any form, …I am committed to eliminating this injustice…."
• “I support the Coalition’s Campaign for Fair Food….I commend these purchasers for their participation ….I encourage the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange …to participate…”

Read the full context of the letter at: www.ciw-online.org

We thank all of you who worked with us – gathering signatures, writing letters, and attending the Tallahasee press conference encouraging Gov. Crist to meet with the CIW. He listened! We look forward to working with the CIW in his fulfillment of their intentions.