Rights Sought for Tomato Pickers

Farmworker advocates are calling on the U.S. fast-food industry todo more to ensure fair treatment for thousands of agricultural workers who picktomatoes.

The Southeastern Florida-based Coalition of Immokalee Workersplanned to announce Wednesday the creation of the Alliance for Fair Food. Thenational alliance will work to get major retail food corporations to buy fromsellers that ensure laborers’ wages and employment rights.

The move comes one year after the coalition won an unprecedentedcommitment from Taco Bell’s parent company Yum! Brands to pay more for itstomatoes — an increase that has been passed on to the workers.

Alliance members include the RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights,the AFL-CIO, the Presbyterian Church, Interfaith Action and the StudentFarmworker Alliance.

‘The abuse of farmworkers’ fundamental human rights is a shamefulpart of this country’s history,” said Coalition co-founder Lucas Benitez.“The whole industry is responsible, not just Taco Bell, and now it’s time forthe entire industry to step up and make a change as Taco Bell has done toimprove the quality of life for workers.”

A message left for the National Restaurant Association was notimmediately returned Tuesday.

Farmworkers picking tomatoes from most of Florida suppliers earnabout 40 cents to 45 cents for every 32 pound bucket, nearly the same amountthey earned 30 years ago. Those picking tomatoes sold to Taco Bell now earn atleast $10 more per week, according to the Coalition.

Farmworkers, many of whom are illegal immigrants, receive noovertime, health insurance, sick leave or other benefits. They must beconstantly on call for growers, even on days when there is no work, making ithard to seek more work to make ends meet.

Florida pickers provide about 90 percent of the nation’s domesticfresh winter tomatoes, according to growers.

Source:Associated Press, Mar. 8, 2006

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