Burger King Exec That Targeted Migrant Workers No Longer Employed

The story of a Burger King executive (vice president Stephen Grover) that signed on through his daughter’s screen names to leave vilifying comments about the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (a non-profit, non-violent organization seeking worker’s rights) online broke in my hometown paper, the Fort Myers News-Press, thanks to reporter Amy Bennett Williams . It was then picked up by various sources including- most recently- The Nation.

The latest information, again, breaks courtesy of Ms. Bennett Williams:

Although Burger King won’t say which two employees it fired for vilifying the Coalition of Immokalee Workers online, the company’s main phone system contains no extensions for vice president Steven Grover or spokesman Keva Silversmith.

Both numbers worked Tuesday, the day Burger King announced the firings without naming which employees were let go, but this morning they didn’t.

An operator at the company’s Miami headquarters who declined to give her name said neither Grover nor Silversmith work for Burger King any longer.

Burger King also announced they are cutting ties with Diplomatic Tactical Services- the unlicensed (and shady) private investigation service whose owner “infiltrated” student groups that supported the plight of the CIW. A spokeswoman said that the company plans to meet with the CIW as soon as possible for negotiations.

This incident has been a public relations nightmare for Burger King. They would have been better off if they signed the agreement to pay a penny more per pound of tomatoes when the deal was first presented. It would have saved them considerable time, effort and even money in the long run.

Tags: News-Press, Burger King, Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Amy Bennett Williams