Demand Fair Wages for Immokalee Workers Oct. 2-3!

[OLD CROW,ALISSA M]

Hi All,

Jake Dacks sent this along to me. If anyone is interested in
planning/participating this event let me know!

To Whom It May Concern,
There is, today, a human rights crisis in Florida's tomato fields.
Tomato pickers in Florida face sweatshop conditions every day.
They are given sub-poverty wages (on average making $10,000/year),
have had no raise in 30 years, and are being denied fundamental
labor rights. These people are not receiving any overtime pay,
even when working 60-70 hours a week and do not have the right to
organize or bargain collectively.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is a community-based
worker organization that is trying to gain attention and support
for these tomato pickers living right here in Florida. The members
are largely Latino, Haitian, and Mayan Indian immigrants working
in low-wage jobs throughout the state of Florida. They have
successfully gotten Yum! Foods (which owns fast food restaurants
Taco Bell, KFC, and Long John Silver???s) and McDonald???s to
raise the price they pay for a pound of tomatoes by one cent. This
one cent will go directly to the picker and represents about a 70%
increase in a tomato picker???s salary. The mission now for the
CIW is to get Burger King to follow suit.

From this basis, the CIW is fighting for: a fair wage for the work
they do, more respect on the part of their bosses and the
industries where they work, better and cheaper housing, stronger
laws and stronger enforcement against those who would violate
workers' rights, the right to organize on their jobs without fear
of retaliation, and an end to indentured servitude in the fields.
The CIW will be in Gainesville Tuesday, October 2nd and Wednesday,
October 3rd. On Tuesday there will be an open forum at 6pm in the
Plaza of the Americas where the CIW will discuss their coalition
and goals, and what can be done in Gainesville to help their
cause. Throughout the morning of Wednesday October 3rd, the CIW
will be going to different classrooms to teach students about
their organization and objectives. On Wednesday at 11:30, there
will be a rally outside of the Burger King located on Inner Road
(next to Broward Dining) to continue to raise awareness.
Of course, everyone is invited to all of the aforementioned
events. If you have any questions of would like to get involved
please contact us via email at: UFprogres...@gmail.com
Thank you,
UF representatives for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers
--
Alissa Old Crow