Monday, March 5, 2007
Greg Rosenthal, Syracuse N.Y. pickets outside of McDonald's off of 6th street Friday evening. Rosenthal has been working with CIW (Coalition of Immokalee Workers) for over a year. The coalition is asking McDonald's to increase the farmers' pay by one cent per pound of tomatoes. Rosenthal decided to picket McDonald's because "I thought it'd be a minor chance to make a major point."
Lawrence activist groups are battling a growing problem in the south — immigrant slavery.
About 20 members of the Lawrence Fair Food association and Apoyo Trabajador, a University of Kansas student group, fought the elements Friday at the East Sixth Street McDonald’s to protest the exploitation of farmers who supply tomatoes to the fast food chain.
Students at the demonstration held a sign that read, “McDonald’s Dirty Laundry equals Farm workers’ Sweat and Blood.” Passing cars honked and the wind whipped their clothesline filled with filthy jeans and T-shirts, which represented impoverished conditions of the workers, but the demonstration continued.
Cory Fischer-Hoffman, Philadelphia graduate student, said the demonstrators fought for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a group of farmers in south Florida who gathered to fight for better wages. Many of those farmers are immigrants from Haiti, Central America and Mexico, looking for work to send money back to their families. The tomato farmers pick two tons of tomatoes to earn $50 for that workday, Fischer-Hoffman said.
“It’s an enormous amount of work just so the can survive,” Fischer-Hoffman said. “Their rights to organize are not protected by U.S. laws, and they’re taken advantage of by suppliers who know they can get away with paying workers low wages,”
Students in Apoyo Trabajador thought the demonstration was a good way to initiate for immigrant farmers.
“We hope that this helps call the attention of the decision-makers at McDonald’s to actually do something about this,” said Mauricio Herrera, Alajuela, Costa Rica, graduate student.
pullquote
We hope that this helps call the attention of the decision-makers at McDonald’s to actually do something about this.
-Mauricio Herrera, Alajuela, Costa Rica, graduate student
Gary Vaughn, senior store manager for McDonald’s, declined to comment on the demonstration.
In April, Lawrence Fair Food and Apoyo Trabajador intend to travel to McDonald’s headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill., to protest for better wages and more integrity for immigrant farm workers.
“McDonald’s is such an important player in the fast food industry that whatever kinds of changes they make can really set a precedent for other fast food corporations,” Fischer-Hoffman said. “They have the potential to support farm workers and we demand they use that power.”
Kansan staff writer Katy Blair can be contacted at kblair@kansan.com.
— Edited by Ashley Thompson
Activists rally at Burger King locations
The Coalition of Immokale Workers represent the Latino, Haitian and Mayan immigrants ...
Protesters march for Florida farm workers
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers in Florida wants higher wages for its ...
Students unite with low-wage workers
KU students and tomato harvesters in Immokalee, Fla., are fighting for fair ...
Letter to the Editor: Workers need support
‘Kudos’ sent to Lawrence residents who support the farm workers' struggle against ...
Students work with and for migrant workers
The Lawrence Fair Food prepares for this week’s events in improving conditions ...
Food festival raises money for freedom march
KU student group organizes events to fight for rights of low-income farm ...
Film sheds light on farming industry
“Food, Inc.,” showing at the Kansas Union tonight, encourages people to buy ...
Editorial: Farmers' market is culture
Farmers' market is a good way to experience Lawrence culture and community.
Student group gives back to local farms
A campus group spends their weekends helping local farmers.
KU students get hands dirty
Student farm teaches about agriculture, while also offering real products.
Students help farmers market thrive
University and local farms benefit from each other
Food Revolution
From the farmers to the restaurant to the consumer, learn how local ...
Restaurants take precautions with tomatoes
The salmonella outbreak worries citizens, but Local Burger and Checkers say their ...
Group works for more than just peanuts
The federal minimum wage is $5.85 an hour, and ‘Current-See’ is looking ...
KU Dining Services supports local foods
University’s effort to save money, support sustainability includes rooftop garden and local ...
Dining Services offers local produce
New Farm to Cart program sells locally grown fruits and vegetables on ...
Lawrence, Japan exchange ideas on organic business
Japanese organic food professionals are visiting Lawrence to explore local organic markets.
Former student spent month purchasing local produce
Living life as a locavore meant only buying food within a 100-mile ...
Activist speaks on issues in Sudan
Bobbie-Frances McDonald traveled to Africa eight years ago, witnessed conflict first hand.
A new meat market
Animals could become obsolete in meat production.
Boulevard Brewery releases Pilsner lager
After 20 years, KU graduate’s company is putting a new product on ...
Student farm project comes to a standstill
Despite the semester’s close and a lack of money, the farm’s leaders ...
Another Irish player coming to KU
Anthony McDonald will be the second player to play under coach Weis ...
Students protest immigration bill at Wescoe Beach
The A to Zzzzz's of Napping
Are you a napper?
Students go green to save green
Local gardening organizations help students grow their own produce.
Organic food film series comes to town
The “Go Organic!” film series will make a stop in Lawrence Thursday ...
Magruder: Small-town sensibility
A small town kid tells the cultured, big city people about a ...
Study shows many women dissatisfied with birth ...
The pill top contraceptive choice despite the fact many women are frustrated ...
Farmers’ market opens for season
Shoppers can avoid pesticides by buying local and organic produce, but can ...
Buser: The fundamentals of tipping
Tipping doesn't have to be complicated, but it does have to be ...
Movie review: Machete
Hollywood hits, indie flicks and everything in between.
Farmers’ Market offers more than just fruits ...
Vendors hope to attract more college students with new evening hours.
Students turn out for counter-protest
Three hundred individuals showed their support to gay rights.
Fast food remains popular, yet unhealthy
A recent survey found that most Americans prefer fast food for its ...
Organic Foods: The meaning behind the label
The meaning behind the label.
Stay and play
If you’re staying in Lawrence, fall in step on Mass
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Over 1 Billion Angered
Quick clarification - the article makes a passing reference to "slavery" near the beginning.
Unfortunately, conditions that meet the strict federal legal guidelines for modern-day slavery DO continue to exist in the fields of Florida - read more about this here: http://www.ciw-online.org/slavery.html
In addition, these conditions are not limited to immigrants - the agricultural industry, after all, being an "equal opportunity exploiter." The latest case of forced labor uncovered, in part, by the CIW actually involved mostly African-American, U.S.-born workers. Read more here: http://www.ciw-online.org/Foxes_Henhouse_FFVA.html
It is this decades-long legacy of exploitation, poverty wages, and abuse that the CIW's campaign for Fair Food - calling on McD's and the rest of the fast-food industry to take responsibility for the conditions their purchasing practices have caused- seeks to remedy.
Great work by these allies in Lawrence!
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID