As farmworkers and allies hit the road for next week’s Wendy’s Shareholder meeting, we need YOU to keep the pressure up on the fast-food holdout!
Next Tuesday, May 23rd, Wendy’s Corporation will hold its annual shareholder meeting in Columbus, Ohio. It is the moment when shareholders from across the United States huddle with the company’s leadership to hear the latest updates on how the fast-food giant is faring. No doubt, Wendy’s executives will trot out what they consider to be their prize accomplishments from the past year: putting the final touches on the company’s freshly-modernized brand makeover, standing out in a crowded social media landscape, and, of course, issuing tweaks to their new and improved Supplier Code of Conduct. In short, Wendy’s shareholders can expect to hear that Wendy’s is the very picture of a successful 21st century fast-food company.
Care to venture a guess as to one bit of news from the past year that won’t be included in the executives’ power point presentation to the shareholders? The fact that tens of thousands of consumers are boycotting Wendy’s, and not because of the removal of spicy nuggets from the company’s menu! For an ever-growing number of consumers of conscience, no amount of public relations spin can replace a real and lasting commitment to farmworkers’ human rights, and this year, the Fair Food Nation is gearing up to make it clear that there is only one way for Wendy’s to truly become a leading fast-food chain of the 21st century: Join the Fair Food Program.
And we need your help to make it happen!
Even if you can’t join the farmworkers and fellow allies who are on their way to Columbus as we write, there are many ways you can make your voice heard in the chorus of calls for farm labor justice ahead of next week’s meeting! Here’s a reminder of the many ways you can take action:
1) There’s still time! Make plans to join farmworkers, Ohio Fair Food and allies from across the country on Tuesday, May 23 for a major protest outside of Wendy’s annual shareholder meeting, followed by a community lunch with CIW. Housing will be provided for those coming from out of town. Get in touch with us at organize@allianceforfairfood.org for support in planning the trip!
2) Send a boycott postcard to Wendy’s CEO Todd Penegor and Board Chairman Nelson Peltz, then organize your community, congregation, or student group to do the same! Download the postcard here to print, sign, and send to One Dave Thomas Blvd., Dublin, OH 43017. (And make sure to let us know when you send it along!)
3) Donate to the Wendy’s Boycott Fund to bring us closer to our goal of $25,000 in the month of May, to fuel sustained and growing action in the struggle for Fair Food – and bring us closer to an agreement with the final fast food holdout! You can donate online at bit.ly/boycott-fund or by writing a check to Alliance for Fair Food and sending to PO Box 509, Immokalee, FL 34143.
4) On Monday, May 22, participate in a national call-in day to Wendy’s Headquarters! Below is information about the call-in day and a sample script for your call. Once you’ve called, email us at organize@allianceforfairfood.org to share a report!
Call-in Number: (888)-624-8140
Script: Hello, my name is __________ and I would like to leave a message for Todd Penegor.
As a dedicated ally of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, I want Wendy’s to know that I will continue to support the national Wendy’s Boycott until the corporation respects the human rights of farmworkers in its supply chain and joins the Fair Food Program. For four years, we have demanded that Wendy’s be a partner in the Program, but Wendy’s has failed to do so, instead offering a Code of Conduct devoid of enforcement mechanisms or worker participation and moving purchasing to fields where human rights abuses go unchecked.
Mr. Penegor should know we plan to make our voices heard during an action outside of Wendy’s headquarters tomorrow, calling on him and all shareholders to respect farmworkers’ dignity by joining the Fair Food Program. Unless you commit to joining the Fair Food Program during your annual shareholder meeting, scores of farmworkers and allies will be peacefully demonstrating outside — and the already tens of thousands-strong boycott of Wendy’s will continue to grow day by day!
Thank you for delivering this message.