The Coalition of Immokalee Workers' 11-day, 200 mile bike ride to the Lakeland, Florida HQ of Publix supermarket concluded on Tuesday, September 6 when the riders and about 75 supporters appeared at the secured gate of the corporation's campus.
Publix supermarket chain is listed as #102 on Fortune's 2011 list of 500 largest companies, ahead of more well-known giants like McDonald's (111), Monsanto (234), Starbucks (229), Land o' Lakes (218), Nordstrom (254), VISA (297), Campbell Soup (312), Hertz (315) and Whole Foods (273). Operating in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama, Publix had revenues of $25.3 billion in 2010, similar to those of Traveler’s, Rite-Aid, Raytheon and Macy’s. Publix's 2010 profits were $1.3 billion.
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is a grassroots organization of Florida tomato workers, campaigning for humane working conditions and an increase in their rate of pay--which has amounted to roughly $40 per 10-hour day for almost 30 years.
The ride was part of the CIW's Campaign for Fair Food, seeking to improve the pay and working conditions of tomato pickers in Florida, where most of the winter tomatoes sold at retail in the U.S. are produced. (For background on the issue, see my diaries of 8/21 ">8/21 and 8/27 and/or resources listed at bottom.) The CIW hoped to invited Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw to visit Immokalee, Florida, to see first hand the poverty and working conditions endured by the workers. Publix has repeatedly refused to sign on to the Fair Food Agreement, which has already been endorsed by major Florida growers, food chains including Taco Bell and Burger King, and the national grocer Whole Foods Market.
Churches and other local groups provided welcome and hospitality along the way. In Sarasota the riders enjoyed lunch prepared by members of Slow Food of Greater Sarasota. In Venice lodging was provided by the Knights of Columbus and the group breakfasted with Catholic bishop Frank J. Dewane. UCC, Presbyterian, United Methodist and others also welcomed and supported the riders en route. Students from Florida's New College and the RIngling College were among the supporters joining the ride for a leg or two.
In an op-ed piece published in the Tallahassee Democrat Presbyterian minister Rev. Brant Copeland noted Publix's record of generosity to local nonprofit agencies, and asks, "Why fair trade coffee, but not fair trade food?"
The CIW party experienced some intimidation on their trek. "The man of mystery...has been shooting video of protestors in Punta Gorda, Sarasota and Bradenton and, disconcertingly, calling organizers by name without introducing himself..." (This sort of thing has happened before in the Publix campaign; in 2009, a man videotaping children accompanying their parents at various CIW events was discovered to be a Publix employee. Publix stated he was not taping them in any work-related capacity.)
At the Publix security gate on Tuesday, a company representative said Mr. Crenshaw had no interest in meeting with CIW representatives or the customers present in support.
This spokesperson repeated the same timeworn public relations bromides -- "we don't pay the employees of other companies directly"[;] "put it in the price"[;] "this is a labor dispute"[;]-- that Publix spokespeople have rolled out for nearly two years in response to the Campaign (or should we say non-response [...]Ugh, it's getting painful just to repeat the debunking at this point.
The CIW is not giving up, any more than they did after previous efforts to bring Publix around. Based on the incredible determination they've shown in past campaigns with Burger King, Florida growers and others, I expect the Publix campaign will go on for as long as it takes. The CIW continues to slowly-but-steadily gain public notice and support, thanks in part to the loyal assistance of communities of faith.
What you can do: Use tthis handy link and (revisable) sample letter to contact CEO Crenshaw and senior corporate officials.
Resources for further information:
2005 PBS's NOW report, with background and early Fair Food Campaign including successful boycott of Taco Bell (in 2 parts)
Part 1
Part 2
TOMATOLAND by Barry Estabrook: New book on why our modern supermarket tastes so bad, contemporary growing practices and the exploitation of the workers who harvest them
http://www.gourmet.com/... (Estabrook '09 Gourmet article --beginning of the tomatoland work)
http://www.npr.org/... Tomatoland author Barry Estabrook on NPR's Fresh Air
2009 Grist article on Immokalee workers' living conditions
Photos by Coalition of Immokalee Workers. Used by permission