Mr. John Chidsey, CEO
Burger King Corporate Office
5505 Blue Lagoon Drive
Miami, Florida  37126

August 23, 2007

Dear Mr. Chidsey:

            At the Annual Meeting of the Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ held this past May, a resolution by the delegates was passed “In Support of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ Burger King Campaign (attached).

            I write to you today to urge Burger King to join the other major corporations that have supported the CIW and other members of the Florida tomato industry to improve the wages and working conditions of the farm workers who provide the tomatoes for your company and its customers.

            Surely you are aware of the crisis in Florida’s tomato fields.  The conditions of the workers in our fields are appalling.  The wages paid to the workers are sub-poverty, there have been no raises in nearly thirty years and they have no right to overtime pay. 

            In the announcement that Burger King made earlier this year you asserted that it was impossible to replicate the penny-per-pound payment in the supply chain despite the fact that other corporations have successfully accomplished such an agreement.   The offer to “retrain” farm workers for employment at Burger King restaurants is not a solution to the problem.  The problem exists because of the poor working conditions among the farmers who grow the tomatoes that your company uses.  A penny more per pound for the tomatoes that you purchase is a real and viable solution and would significantly improve the lives of those who grow the tomatoes. 

            Surely Burger King cares about its own employees.  Surely Burger King wants to be a partner in helping to rectify conditions and wages of those in your supply chain whom you depend upon to be a successful company.  Surely you want to join two major fast-food corporations in advancing fair food practices which consumers expect. 

            I urge you to work with the CIW to bring about real and substantial change for Florida farm workers.  Take action now to embrace this partnership and make a difference in the lives of people who often go unnoticed in our society and our world.  I urge you to take leadership so that Burger King will be recognized as a socially responsible member of the fast food industry.

 

Sincerely,

Rev. Kent J. Siladi
Conference Minister
Florida Conference, United Church of Christ