to join the CIW listserve e-mail: https://lists.mayfirst.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/announce
From:
http://www.ciw-online.org/BK_CIW_joint_release.html
WASHINGTON – May 23, 2008 - The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and Burger King Corp. (NYSE:BKC) today announced plans to work together to improve wages and working conditions for the farmworkers who harvest tomatoes for the BURGER KING® system in Florida.
BKC has agreed to pay an additional net penny per pound for Florida tomatoes to increase wages for the Florida farm workers who harvest tomatoes. To encourage grower participation in this increased wage program, BKC will also fund incremental payroll taxes and administrative costs incurred by the growers as a result of their farmworkers' increased wages, or a total of 1.5 cents per pound of tomatoes.
BKC also joins other fast-food industry leaders and the CIW in calling for an industry-wide net penny per pound surcharge to increase wages for Florida tomato harvesters.
Together, BKC and the CIW have also established zero tolerance guidelines for certain unlawful activities that require immediate termination of any grower from the BURGER KING® supply chain. The BKC/CIW collaboration additionally provides for farmworker participation in the monitoring of growers' compliance with the company's vendor code of conduct.
John Chidsey, chief executive officer of Burger King Corp., said, "We are pleased to now be working together with the CIW to further the common goal of improving Florida tomato farmworkers' wages, working conditions and lives. The CIW has been at the forefront of efforts to improve farm labor conditions, exposing abuses and driving socially responsible purchasing and work practices in the Florida tomato fields. We apologize for any negative statements about the CIW or its motives previously attributed to BKC or its employees and now realize that those statements were wrong. Today we turn a new page in our relationship and begin a new chapter of real progress for Florida farmworkers.
"For more than 50 years, BKC has been a proud purchaser and supporter of the Florida tomato industry. However, if the Florida tomato industry is to be sustainable long-term, it must become more socially responsible. We, along with other industry leaders, recognize that the Florida tomato harvesters are in need of better wages, working conditions and respect for the hard work they do. And we look forward to working with the CIW in the pursuit of these necessary improvements. We also encourage other purchasers and growers of Florida tomatoes to engage in dialogue with the CIW in support of driving industry-wide socially responsible change."
Lucas Benitez of the CIW added, "The events of the past months have been trying. But we are prepared to move forward, together now with Burger King, toward a future of full respect for the human rights of workers in the Florida tomato fields. Today we are one step closer to building a world where we, as farmworkers, can enjoy a fair wage and humane working conditions in exchange for the hard and essential work we do everyday. We are not there yet, but we are getting there, and this agreement should send a strong message to the rest of the restaurant and supermarket industry: Now is the time to join Yum! Brands, McDonalds, and Burger King in righting the wrongs that have been allowed to linger in Florida’s fields for far too long."
U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (IL-D): “I applaud Burger King for announcing today that it will be providing an extra penny per pound to the tomato pickers of Immokalee, Florida and establishing a zero-tolerance policy for worker abuses in the region. Today's announcement is a major step forward in improving the wages and working conditions of the Immokalee workers. I call on other purchasers of the region's tomatoes and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange to join Burger King and do the right thing for these workers.”
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (VT-I): “I have been to Immokalee and seen first-hand the conditions for farm workers there, perhaps the most exploited workers in America. I am very pleased that Burger King has agreed to help the tomato pickers who have worked for too long for too little. I know that this has been a long and hard road for Burger King, and I believe the American people will appreciate what they are doing. I hope now that other corporations will join Burger King, McDonalds and Yum Brands in doing the right thing.”
The CIW has ended its campaign against BKC and its franchisees and will work with the company to further foster improvements and sustainable changes throughout the Florida tomato industry. The CIW and BKC will also work together toward development of an industry-wide vendor code of conduct and increased worker wages through encouragement of full buyer and grower participation.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Teenage farm worker dies of heat exhaustion
On May 14, the official temperature was 95 degrees; it was even hotter inside the wine grape vineyard owned by West Coast Grape Farming, east of Stockton, where Maria and her fiancé, Florentino Bautista, worked. Maria had been working for nine hours.
At 3:40 p.m. Maria became dizzy. She didn’t know where she was and didn’t recognize Florentino. Maria passed out. Florentino helplessly held her in his arms.
There was no water for the workers from 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. When water arrived, it was a 10-minute walk from where Maria was working, too far to access. There was no shade or training for foremen and workers about what to do if someone became ill from the heat—as required by law.
The foreman came over and stood four or five feet away, staring at the couple for about five minutes. He said, "Oh, that’s what happens to people, but don’t worry. If you apply some rubbing alcohol to her, it will go away." It didn’t.
After a number of delays Maria was taken to a clinic. On the in Lodi, the foreman called on the driver’s cell phone and spoke to Florentino. “If you take her to a clinic,” the foreman said, “don’t say she was working [for the contractor]. Say she became sick because she was jogging to get exercise. Since she’s underage, it will create big problems for us.”
They arrived at the clinic at 5:15 p.m., more than an hour and a half after Maria was stricken. She was so sick an ambulance took her to the hospital. Doctors said her temperature upon arrival was 108.4 degrees, far beyond what the human body can take.
Maria’s heart stopped six times in the next two days before she passed away on Friday.
Doctors said if emergency medical help had been summoned or she had been taken to the hospital sooner, she might have survived.
It is hard for Maria’s family and her fiancé, Florentino, to accept her death, knowing it could have been prevented.
Florentino, said, “There should be justice for what happened. It wasn’t just. It wasn’t fair what they did.”
***
This is not the first time farm workers have needlessly died from the heat. Ten have died over the last four years.
Three farm workers perished from the heat in summer 2005, when Governor Schwarzenegger issued the regulation to prevent such deaths.
In 2007, 36% of employers inspected by Cal-OSHA were not following the heat regulation, according to a story in the Sacramento Bee. Associated Press just reported that Jimenez's employer, Merced Farm Labor, had been issued three citations in 2006 for exposing workers to heat stroke, failing to train workers on heat stress prevention and not installing toilets at the work site. To date the $2,250 it owes in fines has not been paid, according to the article.
At 3:40 p.m. Maria became dizzy. She didn’t know where she was and didn’t recognize Florentino. Maria passed out. Florentino helplessly held her in his arms.
There was no water for the workers from 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. When water arrived, it was a 10-minute walk from where Maria was working, too far to access. There was no shade or training for foremen and workers about what to do if someone became ill from the heat—as required by law.
The foreman came over and stood four or five feet away, staring at the couple for about five minutes. He said, "Oh, that’s what happens to people, but don’t worry. If you apply some rubbing alcohol to her, it will go away." It didn’t.
After a number of delays Maria was taken to a clinic. On the in Lodi, the foreman called on the driver’s cell phone and spoke to Florentino. “If you take her to a clinic,” the foreman said, “don’t say she was working [for the contractor]. Say she became sick because she was jogging to get exercise. Since she’s underage, it will create big problems for us.”
They arrived at the clinic at 5:15 p.m., more than an hour and a half after Maria was stricken. She was so sick an ambulance took her to the hospital. Doctors said her temperature upon arrival was 108.4 degrees, far beyond what the human body can take.
Maria’s heart stopped six times in the next two days before she passed away on Friday.
Doctors said if emergency medical help had been summoned or she had been taken to the hospital sooner, she might have survived.
It is hard for Maria’s family and her fiancé, Florentino, to accept her death, knowing it could have been prevented.
Florentino, said, “There should be justice for what happened. It wasn’t just. It wasn’t fair what they did.”
***
This is not the first time farm workers have needlessly died from the heat. Ten have died over the last four years.
Three farm workers perished from the heat in summer 2005, when Governor Schwarzenegger issued the regulation to prevent such deaths.
In 2007, 36% of employers inspected by Cal-OSHA were not following the heat regulation, according to a story in the Sacramento Bee. Associated Press just reported that Jimenez's employer, Merced Farm Labor, had been issued three citations in 2006 for exposing workers to heat stroke, failing to train workers on heat stress prevention and not installing toilets at the work site. To date the $2,250 it owes in fines has not been paid, according to the article.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
One hundred plus farm workers evicted following news coverage. Take action now!
Yesterday more than 100 migrant farm workers were living in an
orchard. Tonight they have no place to go.
Why, you ask? These Washington state cherry pickers came to
Shafter, California after being told by company representatives
to come to Califronia for a job in the cherries. Consequently
workers and their families traveled from Washington State to
work at the Kyle Mathison Orchards. Kyle Mathison is part of the
Wenatchee, Washington based Stemilt Growers Company--which,
according to its web site, is the largest shipper of
fresh-market sweet cherries in the world.
When these farm workers reached California, things were not as
expected. A number of the workers were hired, but other workers
were told to just wait and see if jobs were available. According
to KERO 23 news, a farm worker said, "I came from Washington
state. We came here to work, but they haven't treated us like
they should and we're a little worried because we may not have
enough money to go back to Washington."
While in Washington, some of the workers were informed that
housing would be available to them when they got to California.
However, when they got here there was no housing. They had no
choice but to sleep in the fields. Some stayed in tents, others
in cars and still others slept on cardboard or simply the dirt.
Workers complained of rashes from having to bathe in irrigation
water. The KERO 23 news report quoted another worker as saying,
"I asked where do we shower? And he said 'There's the water
hole.' ... and there's ducks and fish! I asked, 'We shower
there?! Where do the women shower?!' He said the same place."
When workers went public about being left out in the cold,
things only got worse. Last night Bakersfield area television
stations showed the workers? bleak situation. Today, Stemilt
company representatives' called the sheriffs to have the 100
plus workers and their property evicted from the orchard.
The workers who are currently working were told they would still
be allowed on Monday--however they now have no place to live.
The others have no place to live and no job--the company told
them to still wait and see.
Stemilt says their core values include treating workers, growers
and customers fairly. How is this fair?
Take action now. Tell Stemilt to provide housing for these out
of state workers tonight, pay reasonable travel expenses and
immediately hire the rest of the Washington workers instead of
forcing them to wait and see.
http://www.ufwaction.org/campaign/cherryworkers/ig5e6k5rh77teekj?
Tell-A-Friend: Every e-mail sent makes a difference. Please help
us spread the word about this campaign. Forward this message to
at least 10 friends or family and ask them to send an e-mail
too. Go to: http://www.ufwaction.org/campaign/cherryworkers/forward/ig5e6k5rh77teekj?
Your spare change can make change: Go to: https://secure.ga6.org/08/donations/ngpNiIKKqiuXQ?
orchard. Tonight they have no place to go.
Why, you ask? These Washington state cherry pickers came to
Shafter, California after being told by company representatives
to come to Califronia for a job in the cherries. Consequently
workers and their families traveled from Washington State to
work at the Kyle Mathison Orchards. Kyle Mathison is part of the
Wenatchee, Washington based Stemilt Growers Company--which,
according to its web site, is the largest shipper of
fresh-market sweet cherries in the world.
When these farm workers reached California, things were not as
expected. A number of the workers were hired, but other workers
were told to just wait and see if jobs were available. According
to KERO 23 news, a farm worker said, "I came from Washington
state. We came here to work, but they haven't treated us like
they should and we're a little worried because we may not have
enough money to go back to Washington."
While in Washington, some of the workers were informed that
housing would be available to them when they got to California.
However, when they got here there was no housing. They had no
choice but to sleep in the fields. Some stayed in tents, others
in cars and still others slept on cardboard or simply the dirt.
Workers complained of rashes from having to bathe in irrigation
water. The KERO 23 news report quoted another worker as saying,
"I asked where do we shower? And he said 'There's the water
hole.' ... and there's ducks and fish! I asked, 'We shower
there?! Where do the women shower?!' He said the same place."
When workers went public about being left out in the cold,
things only got worse. Last night Bakersfield area television
stations showed the workers? bleak situation. Today, Stemilt
company representatives' called the sheriffs to have the 100
plus workers and their property evicted from the orchard.
The workers who are currently working were told they would still
be allowed on Monday--however they now have no place to live.
The others have no place to live and no job--the company told
them to still wait and see.
Stemilt says their core values include treating workers, growers
and customers fairly. How is this fair?
Take action now. Tell Stemilt to provide housing for these out
of state workers tonight, pay reasonable travel expenses and
immediately hire the rest of the Washington workers instead of
forcing them to wait and see.
http://www.ufwaction.org/campaign/cherryworkers/ig5e6k5rh77teekj?
Tell-A-Friend: Every e-mail sent makes a difference. Please help
us spread the word about this campaign. Forward this message to
at least 10 friends or family and ask them to send an e-mail
too. Go to: http://www.ufwaction.org/campaign/cherryworkers/forward/ig5e6k5rh77teekj?
Your spare change can make change: Go to: https://secure.ga6.org/08/donations/ngpNiIKKqiuXQ?
Thursday, May 8, 2008
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