This time next week, over 50 farmworkers and allies will be abstaining from food outside of Publix’ headquarters in Lakeland, FL. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a grassroots, farmworker-led organization, has had a campaign against the supermarket giant for nearly three years now. The CIW has repeatedly asked for Publix to come to the table to discuss signing on to the Fair Food Agreement—an agreement that 10 other national fast food, supermarkets, and food service providers have signed onto—but Publix continues to dismiss the offers.
For decades, Florida's farmworkers have faced poverty wages and daily violations of their basic rights -– including modern-day slavery in the most extreme cases –- in order to harvest our country’s tomatoes. The Fair Food Agreement has begun to change these conditions by advancing the rights of the farmworkers. By signing on to the Fair Food Agreement, companies agree to measures that insure better working conditions in the fields, which includes a zero-tolerance policy for slavery in the fields. It also includes providing a penny more per pound of tomatoes directly to the workers.
In the hope of raising awareness of Publix's role in blocking progress in the fields and expanding the rights of the farmworkers who harvest the nation's food, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and their allies will fast from March 5-10. They will go without food to demand that Publix support the fundamental human rights for farmworkers that are taking root today in Florida's fields.
Please keep our community in your thoughts next week as they work for justice through the direct, non-violent action of fasting.
In solidarity,
Julie
For more information on the fast: http://ciw-online.org/fast/index.html
Press release: http://ciw-online.org/fast_for_fair_food_press_release.html
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/304488489608936/
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