Sister Jeanne Bouchard braves a downpour to demonstrate against Burger King's exploitation of tomato pickers as part of the Coalition of Immokalee Worker's 9-day long tour of Florida. October 7, 2007,Miami, FL. photo: Meghan Cohorst

Tomato pickers in Southwestern Florida earn about 45¢ for picking a 32-pound bucket of tomatoes. According to Professor Bruce Nissen, a study commissioned by McDonalds found that an average worker picks 115 buckets (over 3600 pounds) in a day. For picking well over a ton and a half of tomatoes, the daily wage is less than $52. Since farm work is intermittent, the median annual wage is $7500 per year. Farmworkers are not covered by the National Labor Relations Act or provisions in the Fair Labor Standards Act.

To improve these conditions the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) initiated a campaign to raise farmworker wages by a penny a pound. After a four-year campaign and boycott of Yum Brands (owner of Taco Bell), Yum agreed to settle with the CIW in 2005. McDonalds agreed to similar terms in April of 2007.

Burger King, instead of following this path, has joined forces with Florida tomato growers in the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange (FTGE), which is threatening, according to the AP, to impose a $100,000 fine on any grower who dares to improve conditions for farmworkers by signing with Yum or McDonalds.

This open letter, excerpted below, was released on November 28, 2007.

In the course of history there have always been those who have opposed the advancement of human rights. But the fundamental truth of human dignity has always triumphed, if not immediately, then eventually.

Burger King and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange (FTGE) are using their power to try and turn back the inevitable progress of human rights for farmworkers. Their coordinated tactics, which squarely target some of the poorest, most vulnerable members of our society, are as morally repugnant as they are in vain…. 

What shall we say to these things?

First, stop trying to rob poor farmworkers of the first meaningful raise they've had in almost thirty years. These men and women deserve a fair wage for their backbreaking work - and their penny-per-pound wage increase comes at no cost to the growers.... Stop trying to impede the CIW's agreements with McDonald's and Yum Brands.

Second, stop saying that farmworkers aren't poor….

Third, stop resisting partnership with the CIW and the precedents established in the Yum Brands and McDonald's agreements.

The Campaign for Fair Food has been endorsed by the Presbyterian Church's General Assembly and behind it stand thousands of members/potential customers who are committed to basic human rights for farmworkers. They have marched, they have written letters, they have spoken by their choice of where to eat. The intransigence and duplicity of Burger King and FTGE may delay justice for those who supply their tomatoes. And as Dr. King said, "Justice delayed is justice denied." But they will not prevail.

We are prepared to do what it takes, as long as it takes, walking hand in hand with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and all consumers of conscience to achieve basic human rights.

To Get Involved

• Support the boycott of Burger King www.ciw-online.org [6], sign the petition at www.act.oxfamamerica.org/campaign/burgerking [7]
• Join the Student-Farmworker Alliance www.sfalliance.org [8], www.allianceforfairfood.org [9]