It's just around the corner!
Walk for Farmworker Justice
Sunday Dec. 6
Gather, starting at 2:30 pm, for picket at 2515 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland (Southgate Plaza Publix)
Followed by 2.2 miles march down Florida Ave. to Kryger Park,
100-198 S. Massachusetts Ave., for a rally/candlelight vigil.
November 27, 2009
National Supermarket Week of Action a wrap
Fair Food message sent loud and clear!
In hundreds of supermarkets from Baltimore to the Bay Area, Fair Food activists gave their local grocers a special message this Thanksgiving week: Now is the time to support human rights in Florida's fields!
Supermarket chains from Trader Joe's to Giant, Stop and Shop, Walmart, Winn Dixie, and (of course) Publix were visited this past week by CIW allies who turned their Thanksgiving shoping into a teachable moment by dropping off a copy of the CIW's "manager's letter" to their local grocery store manager.
Thanks to everyone who made the week of action such a success. To get a better idea of the fun, click here for a few pictures from "shop and drops" from across the country. And, of course, even though supermarket week is over, don't let that stop you from getting in on the action -- download the manager's letter any time you'd like and visit for a moment with your supermarket manager next time you shop for groceries!
Publix |
vs. | Publix |
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Family = Love = Publix: For people who live within Publix's southeastern US market, the image on the left will almost certainly be familiar. It is a screen photo from a commercial that airs seemingly non-stop in the run-up to Thanksgiving. The ad cuts back and forth among three fictional families, multiple generations gathered around their holiday tables, all listening in rapt attention to the Thanksgiving blessing, given in perfect pitch by two fathers and a grandmother who remind their loved ones how lucky they are to have each other.
The commercial, like other Publix ads, shows very little food, doesn't show the store, and makes no mention at all of price or special discounts. Rather, with great economy it weaves a powerful, short narrative that follows this simple but remarkably effective formula:
Family = Love = Publix.
You can watch the commercial here. Go ahead, we'll wait... and feel free to shed a tear or two. Anything that can touch that place deep, deep in our hearts where our love for family resides is worth letting in, if only for a moment. Just don't forget to come back.
The other face of Publix: You back? Good. Now dry your eyes and take a good look at the man with the video camera above, on the right. He actually works for Publix (his white pin, in fact, reads "I *heart* Publix"). He is one of the team of videographers that Publix unleashed on farmworkers and Publix customers who support the farmworkers at pickets outside Publix stores. He is in fact the man who, under false pretenses, filmed farmworkers' and customers' families -- including their children -- during the very first Publix protests, until the resulting public uproar forced him and the other photographers to don their white pins and identify themselves as filming for Publix ("At Florida Tomato Protests, Backlash" 11/17/09, The Atlantic Monthly).
He is the other face of Publix.
He's the face you see when you question why Publix continues to purchase tomatoes from growers tainted by last year's brutal slavery prosecution.
He's the face you see when you ask Publix to make good on its promise to be, in the words of its mission statement, "involved as responsible citizens in our communities."
He's the face you see when you protest Publix's refusal to support tomato growers who today are implementing more ethical farm labor practices.
One recent story from the picket line captures the very different narrative behind this other face of Publix. About a week ago, CIW members and local allies organized a protest in Tampa. The picket attracted the attention of many in the Tampa rush hour traffic, including one kindergarten teacher who was so moved that she stopped to join in. As a teacher in nearby Ruskin, she has many students whose parents are farmworkers, and so she sees daily the struggles of farmworker parents to provide for their children. As she walked with the picketers, she talked with members of the CIW delegation and heard their stories.
After talking with the protesters, she approached a Publix representative who was on the scene. She voiced her concern for farmworkers as a Publix customer, but was met with a surprisingly harsh response. When the conversation was over and she told the Publix representative that she hoped she would meet him on better terms one day, his response was a curt "Don't bother". Taken aback with Publix's hostility she quickly re-joined the protestors for the rest of the picket to spread the word to other customers in the evening traffic.
"Don't bother": Farmworkers who protest brutal conditions on the farms where Publix buys its tomatoes are met with silence from Publix executives and surveillance by Publix representatives. Publix customers who support the farmworkers are told not to bother to come back.
This is hardly the reaction one would expect from a company that puts so many millions of dollars into building its image as a caring member of the community, as a part of the family. But it is what it is: the harsh, defensive reaction of a multi-billion dollar corporation that responds to criticism as an attack, to a human rights crisis as a public relations crisis.
So this Thanksgiving, if you happen upon this commercial, try to reconcile the simple grace of the ad with the sheer inhumanity of Publix's response, below, in today's St. Augustine Reporter ("Farmworkers protest supermarket tomatoes"), because we can't. When asked whether Publix continues to purchase from the farms where slave crews were recently found to have picked tomatoes:
"Publix spokesman Dwaine Stevens, who was on hand at the Cobblestone Plaza store to observe the protest, said the chain does purchase tomatoes from the two farms but pays a fair market price.
“Our position, and it remains firm, is it’s a labor issue,” Stevens said. “That’s not our role: to come between our suppliers and their workers.”
Have a great Thanksgiving, and see you in Lakeland on December 6th.
November 23, 2009
Publix protests just keep getting bigger!
Hundreds join CIW members for massive protest in Columbus, GA
See update from Day 3 of CIW's Florida Tour in lead-up to Dec. 6th "Walk for Farmworker Justice"
In the run-up to the biggest Publix protest of the year, a ten-person crew of CIW members and allies have loaded up a van and headed north on a road trip across the state of Florida. Their goal: mobilize students, people of faith, and other Fair Food allies to join us this December 6th in Lakeland for the "Walk for Farmworker Justice"!
On Saturday, the tour crew was joined by well over 200 allies -- a conservative estimate, to be sure -- in Columbus, GA for what was certainly the largest, most spirited Publix protest to date! Read about the action in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer: "200 protest for farmworker rights at Publix," 11/22/09.
Click here for more pictures and a report from Day 3. And be sure to check this space throughout the week for all the news from our Florida tour crew as we get daily dispatches from the road.
November 16, 2009
Sparked by frustration with Publix's tactics, 200 take to streets in St. Pete in largest Publix protest to date!
ALSO: Major action announced for Publix hometown of Lakeland for December 6th ...
In a powerful rebuke to Publix's apparent contempt for farmworkers' fundamental human rights and the demand of its customers for Fair Food, more than 200 farmworkers and allies gathered at a St. Petersburg, Florida, Publix yesterday afternoon for a spirited protest. Following the action, more than half the crowd marched to another nearby Publix store for a second protest.
- See more pics from the actions in St. Petersburg here
- See the St. Petersburg Times article on the day's events here: "At St. Petersburg Publix, protesters march over farmworker pay," 11/16/09.
- See a short youtube video filmed by an ally turning the tables on the Publix camera crew here: "Publix spies on farmworkers"
Also, here below are the early details for what is sure to be the biggest Publix protest of the year, this December 6th in Lakeland, Florida:
Walk for Farmworker Justice
Sunday, December 6
Gather, starting at 2:30 pm, at 2515 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland (Southgate Plaza)
We will be starting the march at 3:30pm - it's 2.2 miles total - and marching down Florida Ave. to Kryger Park for a rally/candlelight vigil as it gets dark.
Address for Park: 100-198 S. Massachusetts Ave., Lakeland.
If you are planning on participating in the Dec. 6th action and would like to know more, or if you'd like to participate but need transportation or have other questions, contact us at workers@ciw-online.org today! There will be more details in the days ahead as plans (music, speakers, etc.) for the Dec. 6th event take shape. Stay tuned!
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| Despite strongly negative public reaction to their filming of protests in Southwest Florida last month, Publix representatives were out again today at the action in Clearwater, Florida, aggressively filming protesters throughout the day. When asked about the filming of children, one of the men operating the camera replied "Why do you bring kids, then?" |
"A Day without Slavery" hosted by Collier County Sheriff's Department in Immokalee...
Meanwhile, another day of mockery by Publix of slavery, farmworker poverty, and its own customers in Clearwater...
In Immokalee Saturday, the Collier County Sheriff's Department and the Collier County Coalition Against Human Trafficking held the first-ever "Day without Slavery," a community event "aimed at providing seasonal farm workers and members of the Immokalee community with information about human trafficking and ways to identify victims of human trafficking." The CIW worked with the Sheriff's Department to help publicize the event and the CIW's Lucas Benitez addressed the crowd, estimated at over 500 people ("Immokalee event geared toward raising awareness of human trafficking," Naples Daily News, 11/14/09).
The Immokalee farmworker community -- famously dubbed "ground zero for modern-day slavery" by one federal prosecutor -- was the target of the event. Detective Charlie Frost, who testified in last year's Senate hearings on slavery in Florida's fields, told the Daily News:
“They are our eyes and ears out here,” Frost said. “They’re the ones that will be able to alert us to these trafficking type of situations. It’s important that they know they have rights as victims.” |
But on the same day that farmworkers and police were joining forces in Immokalee in a grimly serious battle against the scourge of modern-day slavery, Publix representatives were once again busy mocking farmworkers and their allies in Clearwater, who were there protesting Publix's refusal to address revelations of slavery in its supply chain.
In a reprise of its clumsy, and widely-criticized, attempt to surreptitiously film CIW actions in southwest Florida last month, Publix representatives again aggressively filmed protesters in Clearwater on Saturday, though this time the cameramen (right, in blue shirt) clearly identified themselves as shooting on behalf of Publix, with small "I (heart) Publix" pins on their chests. Throughout the day, Publix cameramen stood squarely in the faces of the protesters, filming individual workers and consumers for the benefit of, in their words, "Publix executives."
The "Day without Slavery" in Immokalee and the protest in Clearwater shared a common purpose -- to end slavery in Florida's agricultural industry. The goal of the Publix protests is to forge a more humane agricultural industry by creating real market consequences for those growers who would continue to abuse their workers while ensuring that those who step up to higher labor standards are rewarded with increased demand from ethical retailers, companies like Compass Group, Whole Foods, and others. Yet despite the simple justice of the campaign's demands, Publix continues to purchase tomatoes from growers tainted by last year's brutal slavery prosecution, as they confirmed again just recently to the press.
It is one thing for a large corporation like Publix to resist change. But it is something else all together when a company like Publix adopts such an openly hostile, and quite frankly unsophisticated, position in response to calls by its customers for social responsibility. The issues driving the campaign -- endemic farmworker poverty and slavery -- are now well-established and accepted as fact by everyone from food industry leaders to government officials. Even Florida governor Charlie Crist has publicly declared his support for the Campaign for Fair Food. Yet in spite of this, Publix has refused all communication with the CIW and treated farmworkers and CIW allies alike with unprecedented disdain.
Every day, more and more longtime Publix customers are becoming aware of the conditions behind Publix's tomatoes and of the company's hostility to the Campaign for Fair Food. And their customers' response is unequivocal: This kind of behavior on the part of a multi-billion dollar company against one of the poorest communities in the country, against the very workers whose backbreaking labor has helped make Publix the richest privately held company in Florida, is simply not acceptable.
Indeed, it suggests the very attitude that has allowed slavery to fester in Florida's fields for so long.
Sooner or later, Publix, like other food industry leaders who fought the campaign with similar tactics in the past, will reconsider its strategy, meet with the CIW, and realize that the changes farmworkers are calling for are fair, feasible, and long-overdue. Until that time, Publix might at least find a more professional way to communicate its position. Better still, perhaps Publix could meet with the Collier County Sheriff's Department Anti-Trafficking Unit and so show some hint of respect for fundamental human rights.
November 5, 2009
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| Rev. Martin Luther King, pictured on the steps of the state capitol in Birmingham, Alabama, following the march from Montgomery at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. King famously asked "How long?" would the nightmare of institutionalized racism stand against the rising tide of social justice, and answered confidently, "Not long!" Today, religious leaders throughout Florida are stepping up to demand an end to the human rights crisis in the state's fields, and asking how long will Publix continue to stand in the way of progress for Florida's farmworkers. |
"How long? Not long!"
Florida clergy leading the fight for farmworker rights in Publix supply chain!...
Last week, two different guest opinion columns ran in southwest Florida newspapers written by local clergy calling on Publix to join with the CIW in improving wages and working conditions for the farmworkers who pick the supermarket giant's tomatoes:
- In the Naples Daily News, the Rev. Dana Hendershot of Christus Victor Lutheran Church, highlighted the choice currently before Publix: "Simply put, Publix — Florida’s largest privately held company — has two options. It can support social responsibility and take advantage of its buying power to make a positive difference in the lives of farmworkers, as so many retail industry leaders already have, or it can continue to ignore farmworkers’ plight, quietly profiting from Florida’s persistent harvest of shame. Until its corporate position changes, we prayerfully hope company officials will one day very soon choose the former..." read the full article here
- In the Ft. Myers News-Press, the Rev. Jim Boler, former associate minister of Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ, takes issue with Publix´s vow to not get involved in what they deem as simply "a labor dispute": "When Publix knowingly purchases tomatoes from fields tainted by the sweat of slaves (not just worker and human rights abuse but actual slavery convictions) Publix is involved in that "dispute" on the side of injustice and immorality..." read the full article here
But behind the scenes, religious leaders have also been very active in letting Publix know that there is only one "clear path toward ensuring fair wages and conditions for those who pick the tomatoes that Publix sells in its stores."
In separate letters to Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw, the Rev. Kent Siladi, head of the Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ, and Bishop Frank Dewane, Bishop of the Diocese of Venice of the Catholic Church in Florida, expressed their deep concern over the exploitation of workers in Florida's fields and the urgency of the need for change.
Rev. Siladi wrote:
"... There is a clear path toward ensuring fair wages and conditions for those who pick the tomatoes that Publix sells in its stores. Yum Brands, McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, Bon Appetit, and Whole Foods are all working with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to directly improve the wages and working conditions in their tomato supply chains. Surely Publix would like to be counted among these companies as a responsible neighbor to those who help to provide the produce that helps Publix be a profitable organization..." (letter to Ed Crenshaw, August 18, 2009)
In his letter, Bishop Dewane wrote:
"... By entering into an agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, more desirable working conditions can be put into effect. A proper monitoring system involving both your company and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers can go a long way in recognizing the human dignity of the workers. This action would also signal that Publix Supermarkets, Inc., wishes to ensure zero tolerance for forced labor and human trafficking..." (letter to Ed Crenshaw, September 16, 2009)
There can be no doubt that the longer Publix turns its back on the human rights crisis in Florida's fields, the more Florida's religious leaders will raise their voices in protest and demand real social responsibility from the state's leading supermarket company. How long can Publix ignore the growing chorus of support from Florida's faith community?
For an answer, we turn to another religious leader from another time and another battle for fundamental human rights, Dr. Martin Luther King, whose immortal words on the steps of the state capitol in Birmingham, Alabama, ring true nearly 50 years later:
"How long will justice be crucified, and truth bear it? I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long, because 'truth crushed to earth will rise again.' How long? Not long, because 'no lie can live forever.' How long? Not long, because 'you shall reap what you sow. How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.'" see Dr. King's speech here
Unsettling experience at last weekend's Publix actions becomes issue in Publix campaign...
Man (right) who followed protests from city to city, filmed under false pretenses, now identified as Publix "associate," filming for Publix. Unexplained filming of children questioned.
In a bizarre turn of events, a man who followed CIW members and allies around Southwest Florida last weekend, filming the protests -- and on several occasions denying that he works for Publix, claiming instead to be making a documentary on "social movements" -- has been identified as a Publix "associate" who arranged to provide a copy of his film to Publix, according to the Ft. Myers News-Press ("Man filming protest a Publix worker," 10/23/09). Here's the story:
"Members of a farmworkers group felt an unsettling sense of deja vu when they learned a man — who called himself "an old hippie" making an independent documentary — filming them protesting at Publix actually works for the supermarket giant. And Publix plans to archive copies of his footage, though it won't say why. Instead of keeping the film, Publix should destroy it and apologize to the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, said W. Michael Hoffman, executive director of the Center for Business Ethics at Bentley University in Massachusetts. "This man deceived them. The filming was done under false pretenses. That is an unethical act," Hoffman said. "I would hope the board of Publix would find this inappropriate and in violation of their code of conduct." John Attaway, Publix general counsel and senior vice president, did not respond to phone calls or e-mails seeking comment." |
The article goes on to quote several people who were present at the events, noticed something peculiar about the videographer, and asked him to identify himself:
"I just walked up to him," said the Rev. Dana Hendershot of Naples' Christus Victor Lutheran Church. "He told me he was just an old hippie into protest movements." In Sarasota, New College student Andrea Ortiz talked to him. "He said he was doing a documentary on the protest culture because he was from the '60s," Ortiz said. "And he told me he wasn't from Florida." Ortiz asked for his contact information. He wrote "Southeast Production Services" and a phone number. "He told me his name was Tom, but he didn't give me his last name," she said. A check of the number shows it belongs to Thomas McGuigan of Tampa. Publix spokeswoman Shannon Patten confirmed McGuigan works for Publix. |
For it's part, Publix had this to say:
Patten [Publix spokesperson Shannon Patten] wrote in an e-mail: "(McGuigan) is working on an independent documentary and has been doing so for some time. Knowing that he would be there filming, we have asked him to provide us a copy of his footage for our records." Publix hasn't answered calls and e-mails asking why it wants the images. |
Particularly disturbing about the man's filming was the fact that he appeared to focus unnecessarily on children attending the protest. If, as Ms. Patten admits, Publix arranged to obtain a copy of the film, what possible use would footage of children have for the supermarket giant?
The story ended with a quote from Eric Schlosser, author of "Fast Food Nation" and a long-time observer of the Campaign for Fair Food who wrote a widely-read op/ed in the New York Times ("Burger with a side of spies," 5/7/08) last time the CIW was the target of unethical corporate tactics:
Eric Schlosser, who wrote the best-selling "Fast Food Nation," and testified at last year's Senate hearings on Florida's tomato industry, calls McGuigan's filming "unbelievable." "It's not just the lying and spying, it's the focus on their kids that's so weird," he said. "There's no question they should destroy that film." |
What Publix does with the film remains an open question at this point. See the story in its entirety here.
"There's no question that this is the greatest victory for farmworkers since Cesar Chavez in the 1970s." Eric Schlosser, author of "Fast Food Nation" (Ft. Myers News-Press, "Tomato workers win new pay deal" 9/26/09)
"This is a huge victory." Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis (remarks at announcement ceremony 9/25/09)
Sec. of Labor Solis congratulates the CIW's Oscar Otzoy at Friday's announcement ceremony
CIW, Compass Group, East Coast announce "sweeping changes to benefit tomato harvesters"
at press conference in nation's capital!
Update: The Nation, "A Compass for Fair Food," (9/27/09): "The vision that the Coalition of Immokalee Workers has pursued and is beginning to see come to fruition is an inspiring one, and a model for the nation." read more here
Click here for the exclusive photo report!
See the Washington Post report, "Labor deal will mean boost for farmworker wages"
See the Ft. Myers News Press story, "Tomato workers win new pay deal"
Click here for the press release.
Here's a round-up of statements on the announcement:
Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis: "I would like to congratulate the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. For the first time, a major Florida producer, East Coast Growers and Packers, represented here, has implemented the CIW's Fair Food program. This is a huge victory." Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack: "I commend the Compass Group and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers for taking meaningful steps to ensure that these workers are paid a decent wage and are treated fairly. This agreement not only represents an important step forward for tomato workers in Florida, it is an expression of the essential value of farm workers to our agricultural sector as a whole." see the statement here on the USDA website Senator Bernie Sanders: "Today marks the beginning of the end of the harvest of shame that has existed for far too long in Florida's tomato fields. I applaud the tireless efforts of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers toward improving the wages and working conditions of tomato workers. I also commend the Compass Group for agreeing to this important initiative. The time has come for all tomato growers to participate in the penny per pound program and ensure that no tomato worker lives in abject poverty." Steve Sweeney, president and CEO of Chartwells (an operating company of Compass Group): “Compass Group purchases a lot of tomatoes. It is our intent that this agreement brings immediate financial benefit to the harvesters, gives our suppliers the opportunity to partner with us to change the way the industry does business, and provides a platform to educate our customers on the plight of agricultural workers in Florida." Lucas Benitez of the CIW: "The future of Florida agriculture is contained within this agreement today. It is a future founded on mutual respect and mutual benefit, a future of common purpose among farmworkers, growers, retail food leaders, and consumers. In short, it is a future of social responsibility. We look forward to working with East Coast, Compass, and the other companies that have signed Fair Food agreements to develop the rules and rigorous monitoring systems necessary to make that future a reality this coming season." |
