Coalition of Immokalee Workers Rally At Wendy's Shareholder Meeting For Fair Food Program

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/Channels/story.aspx?ID=1970472

5/27/2013

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers represents mostly immigrant farmworkers, many of them undocumented, who have scored many victories in their push against modern-day slavery, sexual abuse, and low wages in the tomato fields. Melinda Tuhus reports on the coalition’s efforts at Wendy’s.


Since 2005, 11 corporations have joined its Fair Food Program; Wendy's is the only major holdout. The first to sign was Taco Bell, when Emil Brolich was its CEO. He's now CEO of Wendy's, so at a rally outside the Sofitel Hotel, CIW leader Gerardo Reyes Chavez said he had a question for Brolick.

[Gerardo Reyes]: “ If the solution to decades of abuse must be, as Mr. Brolick proclaimed in 2005, why has Wendy's thus far ignored farmworkers' call to participate in the Fair Food Program?. Is Mr. Brolick in the company that now he's leading as a CEO and president -- Wendy's -- willing to play a leadership role once again and help his company meet the high human rights standards being implemented by others in the industry today?”

After he spoke, Reyes Chavez headed with a supporter into the shareholders' meeting, using proxies donated by a supportive organization.

Calls to Wendy's corporate headquarters seeking comment were not returned.

FULL story at link.