Remember the controversy last year over the Immokalee tomato pickers and the 1c a pound increase they need to get a living wage? I thought it was resolved when some of the large buyers of tomatoes agree to pay the 1c a pound......and the issue faded away, lost in the noise.
But Publix didn't agree to pay it - they flat out refuse to pay the pickers, without explanation.
Here is an article from Gourmet Magazine spelling out some of the horrific conditions these workers endure, the equivalent of slavery....
Lucas’s “room” turned out to be the back of a box truck in the junk-strewn yard, shared with two or three other workers. It lacked running water and a toilet, so occupants urinated and defecated in a corner. For that, Navarrete docked Lucas’s pay by $20 a week. According to court papers, he also charged Lucas for two meager meals a day: eggs, beans, rice, tortillas, and, occasionally, some sort of meat. Cold showers from a garden hose in the backyard were $5 each. Everything had a price. Lucas was soon $300 in debt. After a month of ten-hour workdays, he figured he should have paid that debt off.
But when Lucas—slightly built and standing less than five and a half feet tall—inquired about the balance, Navarrete threatened to beat him should he ever try to leave. Instead of providing an accounting, Navarrete took Lucas’s paychecks, cashed them, and randomly doled out pocket money, $20 some weeks, other weeks $50. Over the years, Navarrete and members of his extended family deprived Lucas of $55,000.
Taking a day off was not an option. If Lucas became ill or was too exhausted to work, he was kicked in the head, beaten, and locked in the back of the truck. Other members of Navarrete’s dozen-man crew were slashed with knives, tied to posts, and shackled in chains. On November 18, 2007, Lucas was again locked inside the truck. As dawn broke, he noticed a faint light shining through a hole in the roof. Jumping up, he secured a hand hold and punched himself through. He was free.
This week there have been demonstrations in Lakeland, Fl. this week [including Ethel kennedy and Robert kennedy Jr.], corporate home of Publix, protesting their refusal to pay this tiny rise in price which goes directly to the pickers. Even the local paper had an editorial on the subject.....
This week, I stood in front of the tomatoes at Publix and was concerned.
Florida tomatoes are a multimillion dollar business. Yet, the people who pick the tomatoes don’t make a living wage. Their back-breaking labor nets the average farmworker less than $12,000 a year. It’s not just about the cash. Other problems on Florida tomato farms are well-documented. In this decade, Florida farm employers have been charged with abuses from battery to slavery.
You would like to believe that the friendly associate-owned Publix must be a good steward, studying the abuses and combating them. Any corporation concerned with coffee growers must be using their multi-billion dollar weight to reward only ethical growers. Well, maybe not.
Certainly many such corporations as McDonalds, Taco Bell, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s throw around their weight. They’ve signed an agreement to only work with growers who follow a code of conduct that treats farmworkers humanely. They’ve even gone as far as paying a penny more per pound for tomatoes so that money goes to the farmworkers. Workers who earned $12,000 a year before the penny make about an extra $5,000 with it. Workers who felt threatened and were abused now have an organization who oversees conditions.
Sadly, Publix stands separate from these other corporations. They will not support the agreement between the farmworkers and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange. They don’t feel it’s their place to throw around their weight. After all, this isn’t electricity.
Joining the agreement won’t affect the Publix bottom line. That penny per pound would certainly be passed to the consumer.
So, who does Publix believe must ensure ethical treatment of farmworkers? A Publix spokesperson was quoted that the onus is on the consumer, “customers will make their own purchasing decisions.”
So if you, like me, think this just isn't right for a powerful corporation the size of Publix to ally themselves with the growers of the tomatoes to treat their workers horribly, do what I did.......or any of these options that you feel like doing.
1/ Went on their Facebook page and posted a question.....and the editorial from the Lakeland paper.....
In many ways Publix is a very good corporate citizen - they treat their employees well, adhere to the fair trade rules, hire special needs adults and their stores are active in their community. Which then makes the fact Publix refuses to pay the 1c per pound more for tomatoes for the Immokalee tomato pickers really puzzling. There is no logical reason - the 1c a pound will be passed on to customers who won't notice.....
Is it implicit racism at the ownership level at Publix? Good question.....here is an article from the Lakeland ledger that wonders why too.....
http://www.lakelandlocal.com/2
www.lakelandlocal.com
Chuck Welch follows the advice from a Publix spokesperson and makes a consumer stand in a Lakeland Local editorial.
In many ways social media is the most powerful way to influence corporations - example is the Rush Limbaugh advertisers - so if you have a Facebook account go to Publix and let them know how you feel......same with Twitter......and "Like" any articles on this topic
2/ Send them an e-message .......this is the form you fill out......
3/ The next time I go to our local Publix here in Mount Dora I will seek out the store manager and ask him why Publix won't pay the 1c a pound to the Immokalee pickers.....and that I won't be buying tomatoes from Publix until they do.....
Do the same at your local Publix....
4/ If you are so inclined write a letter to your local newspaper......
It's just weird Publix takes this attitude - as I said on my posting in many ways they are great corporate citizens......but somewhere in Publix, at the very senior level or maybe the Jenkins family itself there is someone who has the power to say no.....and he is doing it. Because the company is Lakeland based which is in the heart of old Florida, my opinion is it's racism.....there is no other logical explanation, or if there is let's hear it......
Go on - post something on Facebook.......and don't forget to "Like" any other comments you agree with.....
Thanks for helping........
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