Posted on 03/06/2005 8:34:14 PM PST by Just Kimberly
Support of the CIW's (Coalition of Immokalee Workers) Demands for a Living Wage and Decent Working C Archive Struggles Rural America Author: Florida District First published 04/28/2001 00:00 by the Communist Party, USA
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Proposed resolution submitted by the Florida District to the 27th National Convention of the Communist Party USA
WHEREAS: Farm workers in the Florida's tomato-picking industry have been struggling since 1995 for a decent living wage;
WHEREAS: More than half these workers and their children live below the poverty level, on an average income of $7,500.00 annually;
WHEREAS: Florida tomato pickers are paid .40 to .45 cents per 32-lb. bucket which equates to having to pick and haul 2 tons of tomatoes per day to earn $50;
WHEREAS: The Coalition of Immokalee Workers' nation-wide boycott is asking for a raise of only one cent per bushel, which would nearly double their income while resulting in a mere 1/4-cent increase in the cost of a taco;
WHEREAS: Neither Federal nor Florida State law requires growers to negotiate with or recognize a farm workers' union;
WHEREAS: Protests by the farm workers and their supporters are designed to demonstrate consumer support for holding Taco Bell accountable for working conditions of the women and men who pick the tomatoes that top the burritos, tacos and chalupas;
WHEREAS: Taco Bell is a multinational corporation with $5.2 Billion in annual sales, and as part of Tricon, the world's largest restaurant system with $22 Billions in sales annually;
WHEREAS: Taco Bell's tremendous global profits are based on cheap ingredients and cheap labor provided by the farm workers who make sub-poverty wages, thereby subsidizing Taco Bell's profits;
WHEREAS: Farm workers are tired of accepting starvation wages for their labor when Taco Bell is making obscene profits as their expense;
WHEREAS: Boycotts against sweatshop conditions and starvation wages paid by companies such as Nike have won significant reforms;
AND WHEREAS: Florida workers supply most of this country's winter tomato crop, estimated at around $500 million annually;
THEREFORE, We call on the National Convention of the Communist Party USA to join the CIW in demanding that Taco Bell, its parent company, Tricon Global Restaurants, and its tomato supplier, Six L's Farms, sit down and negotiate a living wage and decent working conditions with the representatives of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.
Signed: Florida District National Convention, Tampa, FL, April 28, 2001
Whereas, (BLEEEEEEEP!) the Communists!
Can you believe this JUNK! HOW CAN THEY CALL THEMSELVES AMERICANS IN THE SAME BREATH? I guess I have just been in a cave somewhere (happens in a small town), but this is NUTS! JK
They aren't Americans...they're part of The Enemy Within.
Those poor farm workers.... They need federal attention.... from INS/ICE!
AMEN! I have to tell you, I wrote an email to the coalition last night - I was so angry - and I told them, as soon as they become citizens and pay taxes like I do, then they can complain about wages and get their fair share. Otherwise, I told them their illegals needed to go home, and give the Americans in this country a chance to survive. I sent them stats on the poverty levels in Eastern Kentucky, and told them until that is fixed, lets not discuss some poor illegal who needs to be deported anyway! Still fuming today! JK
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