Coalition of
Immokalee Workers
Farm Workers
Standing Together for Just Living and Working Conditions
Building Strength as a Community "Boot the Bell" Campaign
Solidarity of College Students and Faith Communities
Partnership Brings Historic Agreement Pursuing Deeper Changes
Have you ever gone up against what seemed to be insurmountable odds, and succeeded?
That’s what the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) has done and continues to do: farm workers standing together, with the support of faith communities, and drawing on basic principles of human rights.
Many web site visitors may wonder whose these people are? Where are they located? What do they stand for?
Those old enough to remember, may recognize Immokalee as the city in south-Florida that was the setting for Harvest of Shame, Edward R. Murrow’s 1960 documentary about starving farm workers. While starvation is now rare, migrant living and working conditions are still deplorable by basic human rights standards.
Thus, following a 1995 strike by 3,000 workers in the Immokalee-area, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers -- a community-based worker organization whose members are largely Mexican, Guatemalan, and Haitian working in low-wage, farm worker jobs throughout the state of Florida -- was formed. Their web site states their main objectives:
- We strive to build our strength as a community on a basis of reflection and analysis,
constant attention to coalition building across ethnic divisions, and an ongoing investment in leadership development to help our members continually develop their skills in community education and organization.
- From this basis we fight for, among other things: a fair wage for the work we do, more respect on the part of our bosses and the industries where we work, better and cheaper housing, stronger laws and stronger enforcement against those who would violate workers' rights, the right to organize on our jobs without fear of retaliation, and an end to indentured servitude in the fields.
Like early immigrants to the United States, they seek freedom and a better life for themselves and their families. Many came out of desperation following the devastating effects of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and other trade policies on Latin American economies. By coming together, in solidarity, they have taken, and continue to take, inspiring steps forward. One wonderful example is their Taco Bell Campaign.
Florida’s tomato pickers average about $8,000 per year. Workers are paid about 40 cents for each 32-pound bucket. At this rate, it takes 125 buckets, 2 tons of tomatoes, to earn $50 a day! Most workers do not have health benefits, sick leave, vacation days, or pension plans; nor do they have protections for organizing.
As a way to address these injustices, CIW initiated its Taco Bell Campaign by writing letters to company officials, requesting dialogue on these issues. 
The goal was to secure Taco Bell’s support for protections for migrant workers and for a penny-per-pound increase for approximately 1,000 workers who harvest tomatoes for Taco Bell suppliers. That would approximately double their usual rate of 1.3 cents per pound. CIW wanted company officials to use their influence with produce suppliers, who employ the laborers.
Such a claim only strengthened the resolve of CIW members; they reached out to students and faith communities to support their boycott. Students at 50 high schools and approximately 300 colleges and universities backed the campaign and booted the bell off 22 campuses. With a strong faith tradition among its members, it was natural for CIW to also seek backing from faith-based organizations, such as the National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM) and the National Council of Churches (NCC). These groups endorsed CIW's campaign and actively supported it.
With such solidarity across the U.S., CIW's “Boot the Bell” campaign took many creative forms: campus demonstrations, church meetings, protest marches, as well as an updated and informative web site. These campaign strategies led to face-to-face meetings with corporate officials. In 2003, CIW organized a 10-day hunger strike outside Taco Bell headquarters in Irvine, California; with over 75 farm workers and students, it was one of the largest hunger strikes in U.S. history and galvanized religious, labor, and student organizations, as well as thousands of individuals. In 2004 and 2005, CIW members and supporters organized cross-country educational tours and actions.
In March 2005, Taco Bell agreed to meet CIW demands for improved wages and working conditions for Florida tomato pickers in its supply chain. Jonathan Blum, Senior Vice-President of Yum! Brands, issued a statement recognizing that Florida tomato workers "do not enjoy the same rights and conditions as employees in other industries, and there is a need for reform." Their precedent-setting victory was hailed by many, including:
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Former U.S. President/Nobel Laureate Jimmy Carter: “I commend the Coalition of Immokalee Workers for their principled leadership in this very important campaign. I am pleased Taco Bell has taken a leadership role to help reform working conditions for Florida farm workers and has committed to use its power to effect positive human rights change. I now call on others in the industry to follow Taco Bell’s lead to help the tomato farm workers.” Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA): "Yum Brands acceptance of your demands is a great achievement and hopefully only a first step in a widespread awakening to the impacts of corporate policies... It is only through the strength and courage of those few who are willing to stand against insurmountable odds and incalculable risk that true change can be wrought. Your work to end modern day slavery reminds us all that there is still much to be done to end injustice both at home and abroad!" (Source: CIW's web site) |
CIW members have expanded their efforts to organize and strive for worker justice. Their Anti-Slavery Campaign has already resulted in the freeing of over a thousand workers from modern-day bondage within the agricultural industry – in the United States! Their worker-based campaign uncovers, investigates, and assists in the prosecution of slavery rings -- where workers are held against their will, frequently under debt bondage and under threat of bodily harm (beatings, pistol whippings, and shootings).
Complimentary to addressing concrete situations of modern-day slavery are CIW’s efforts to address the demand-side of U.S. food production: the mega-corporations who profit from the artificially-low cost of produce. For example: following their successful 4-year Taco Bell, CIW has launched a letter-writing campaign aimed at enlisting Burger King, Subway, and McDonalds in providing greater protections and benefits for migrant workers.
CIW's efforts are very inspirational to many. Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), in his statement following CIW's Taco Bell victory, summed this up well:
The courageous men and women of the Coalition of the Immokalee Workers prove that standing strong in the struggle can remove the greatest obstacles, even the resistance of a goliath in corporate industry. This victory once again confirms that the methods of nonviolence can win deep and lasting change in the most powerful institutions of the world, in American government and in corporate conglomerates. I applaud all the Coalition workers who struggled and suffered for years to win greater equality for American workers.
Graphics -- thanks to Coalition of Immokalee Workers and National Farm Worker Ministry.