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The CIW, or Coalition of Immokalee Workers is an organization of tomato pickers from Immokalee, Florida who are working in incredibly painful conditions with pay that isn’t close to meeting minimum wage. Farm work is by definition laborious and difficult work, but as an example of the daily challenges these workers face, each worker must pick two tons of tomatoes in order to begin to make minimum wage, getting paid 45 cents per bucket of tomatoes, each weighing approximately 32 pounds. To make minimum wage, a worker must therefore pick approximately two and a half tons of tomatoes a day. That’s not just illegal, is morally reprehensible, and not easily distinguishable from slavery in reality.
For about four years, the CIW has been fighting these wages and their working conditions by going all the way to the top and organizing international boycotts against Taco Bell and McDonald’s, both campaigns resulting in a settlement between CIW leaders and CEO’s of those corporations in 2005 and 2007 respectively. Burger King, however, has refused to budge despite the past four months of talks and the current boycott.
CIW’s demands are simple and justified. The members of this campaign demand that Burger King meet CIW’s demands, that Burger King must:
- Pay a penny more per pound for the tomatoes that Burger King purchases and ensure that this increase is passed along to tomato pickers in the form of increased wages
- Work with the CIW to implement an enforceable code of conduct to ensure fair and safe working conditions for farmworkers in Burger King’s tomato supply chain.
If Burger King does not take leadership and meet these demands, as Taco Bell & McDonald’s already have, then we will all boycott Burger King.
Who should join?
In terms of membership requirements, we’re allowing current and former customers of Burger King to join. If you’re already boycotting Burger King because of this issue, continue to do so, don’t wait for the tipping point, but join anyways to show Burger King that you’re one of many who are taking action against them. If you are still a Burger King customer & need the assurance that you’ll be acting with 420,000 other people, then join & you can elect to wait until the campaign tips before you begin your action. We want as many people to participate as possible!
What else can I do?
Additionally, everyone is encouraged to start local campaigns with smaller tipping points. Whichever tips first, this international or your local boycott, you spring into action. Boycott the Burger King on your college campus. Boycott the Burger King near your High School. Kick Burger King off your sponsor list. Agree with your co-workers not to go to Burger King anymore on your lunch break. There are many small winnable campaigns to support labor rights that are within your immediate control. Create your own campaign & link to this one, & we’ll grow this movement simultaneously on the local and international level.
Please read more about the issue on their website: CIW Homepage
Check out the existing local campaigns below:
