Subway restaurant chain agrees to tomato pickers’ demands 

WHEATON—Just in time to mark the Advent Season, on Dec. 2 in Immokalee, Fla., representatives from the Subway restaurant chain, the third largest fast food buyers of Florida tomatoes in the world, agreed to demands expressly sought by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW)--improved wages and better working conditions for tomato pickers. The workers are on track to receive an additional one penny per pound of tomatoes picked.

The demand for a bigger slice of the American dollar and a dab of dignity in the workplace has been underway for four years. And CIW representatives and its 4,000-plus membership have been building a consensus one sandwich chain at a time. Subway joins the ranks of fast-food giants, McDonald’s and Burger King along with grocery store chains, Whole Foods and Yum Brands in moving labor reforms with the agricultural industry. The issue comes under the banner of fair food. Companies that agree with CIW terms have adopted an ethical stance that recognizes the basic rights of the laborer and incorporates that attitude into its business practices.

For the companies that have joined hands with the Florida union, the move is seen as having stood up for an ethical stance on human rights. As a result, these companies have gained loyalty and profits from many within the larger consumer population around the world.

While support grows for CIW demands, companies such as Subway are gaining steam in a collaborative appeal to monitor compliance and to petition for strict “zero tolerance” guidelines for the agricultural industry as a whole.
Speaking of the matter on behalf of CIW, Gerald Reyes said in a statement, “Today, the fast-food industry has spoken with one voice. With this agreement, the four largest restaurant companies in the world have now joined their voices to the growing call for a more modern, more humane agricultural industry in Florida. Now it is time for other fast-food companies and the supermarket industry to follow suit and for the promise of long-overdue labor reform in Florida’s fields contained in these agreements to be made real.”

At present, the CIW continues to build steam one company at a time. The current goal is gaining support for fair food and improved labor practices from officials at the Chipotle chain of restaurants. For more information about supporting fair food practices, visit CIW at http://www.ciw-online.org/tools.html.