Sabra+blog

__//This report was written by students of the Sabra Advisory, after hearing a presentation by Rabbi Barbara Penzner.//__

It's the 21st Century; unbelievably, there is still SLAVERY in the United States of America. The supposed "free country" might not be so free. Since the mid-1990s, migrant workers in many harvest fields of Immokalee, Florida have been misled into working under savage conditions, unfair pay (below minimum wage), and unjust rules. Harsh crewbosses (modern-day taskmasters) put their workers through grueling work without proper nourishment or proper payment. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is fighting on behalf of the migrant tomato pickers in order to improve their working conditions on multiple counts. The CIW is attempting to increase growers' awareness about abusive treatment of the pickers so that this behavior will stop and the crewbosses will be more even-handed. Initially the growers were not willing to listen to the coaltion's ideas and demands for better working conditions and more money for the workers. However, a determined coalition approached the larger, money-making and successful fast food chains in the country (and in the world) such as Taco Bell, McDonalds, and Burger King who buy the tomatoes, explaining how much of a difference they could make in the lives of these workers by simply paying one extra penny per pound of tomatoes. The only major supermarket that has agreed to this request is Whole Foods. After many years of struggle, the CIW and a trade association, The Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, came to an agreement that included minimum wage guarantees and a zero tolerance policy on forced labor and child labor.

What can YOU do to help further the fight for fair labor conditons?
 * Go to your local supermarket (other than Whole Foods) and give the manager a letter explaining the situation of tomato pickers and your ideas how to help by paying an extra penny per pound of tomatos.
 * Spread the word to your friends, family, and community!
 * For more information on how to continue the fight, explore the CIW website ([|www.ciw-online.org]), or call them at 239-657-8311