Taking the “Fair” and “Pay” Out of Fair Pay

Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) has been a fairly vocal supporter of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, trying to help the workers expose the meager 45 cents per 32 pound bucket of tomatoes pay rate that the pickers and haulers receive (and that pay is a 75% decrease from 30 years ago). Sanders had a hearing today about the matter and it included testimony from CIW’s Lucas Benitez, who “testified about seven-day workweeks, debt bondage, and armed crew bosses that beat workers who attempt to leave”. Eric Schlosser was there as well, talking about the slavery aspects of the migrant workforce.

The basic (gruesome) details are already known by anyone who follows the CIW:

The back story is simple: In 2005, Taco Bell–dogged by a four-year consumer boycott led by CIW–agreed to pay an extra penny per pound for tomatoes it purchased. A small pittance for Taco Bell to give up, but the victory was real, granting workers their first significant pay raise in decades. And last year, those gains were solidified when McDonald’s signed onto the agreement as well, alongside Pizza Hut and KFC.

But in November, the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange–which represents 90 percent of the state’s growers–stepped in. Not only did they reject the agreement, but they also threatened a $100,000 fine against any grower who accepted extra payment for migrant wages. There’s no reason for this, since the agreement doesn’t actually cost growers. But as one grower explained his opposition to such worker concessions (and Benitez shared before the committee), “A tractor doesn’t tell the farmer how to run the farm.”

Yes, nothing makes it seem like you have a valid position than comparing your human employees to tractors. I live near Immokalee- my family actually owns a general store near there that is a popular stopping off spot for the farmers with their bus loads of workers. I have not personally been involved with CIW but have known people who have been. Lucas Benitez has an incredible reputation in these parts for his efforts (well, among those who aren’t farmers).

Likewise in questioning today, FTGE’s Reggie Brown maintained the tomato growers’ line, declaring that he’d never heard of abuses like those his co-panelists (including a detective from the local county sheriff’s office) described.

Fox: “What? The hens? They are fine! I don’t know what you are talking about! I haven’t heard any complaints.”

There were few cameras at today’s hearing, and few of Sanders’ colleagues, either. But of course, the real action Sanders and the Immokalee workers hope for couldn’t happen in the hearing. Rather, theirs is the hope that the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Mary Bauer expressed in her testimony: “I do not believe American people would be silent if they knew how their food was being produced.” Or members of Congress, either.

This issue doesn’t need to be debated. It is stated above that the pay raise would not cost the growers a cent. The Florida Tomato Growers Exchange is trying to show their dominance and make sure that the “help” knows its place. The best way to deal with a bully is to make them realize how weak they are.

If you would like to contact Reggie Brown of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange (please be respectful), here are the details:

Phone: (407) 660-1949

Email: reggie.brown@floridatomatogrowers.org

Address:

Reggie Brown

Executive Vice President

Florida Tomato Growers Exchange

800 Trafalgar Court, Suite 300

Maitland, FL 32751

If you would like to contact Senator Sanders and commend his work with the CIW, there is an online message form here.

If you’d like to contact the CIW to offer support or help (donations can be made here):

Phone: (239)657-8311

Fax: (239)657-5055

Email: workers@ciw-online.org

Address:

Coalition of Immokalee Workers

P.O. Box 603

Immokalee, FL 34143

Tags: Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Bernie Sanders, Lucas Benitez, Florida Tomato Growers Exchange