Letter: Seeks more pay for tomato farm workers

Terry Buckenmeyer
St. Augustine
Published Friday, November 16, 2007


The article seemed to imply that this decision effectively killed the agreements. Nothing could be further from the truth. The agreements stand.

For those unfamiliar with the situation, major purchasers of tomatoes, Wal-Mart and the fast-food industry, have used their massive purchasing power to force ever lower prices. As a result, farm worker wages remain at the poverty level. Various government agencies report that the average farm worker's income is $10,000 per year.

The agreements reached by the Coalition with McDonald's and Yum Foods provides an extra penny per pound to be paid by the purchasers to the workers. An independent body has been set up to ensure that this money goes to the workers. The money does not go to or through the Coalition.

The agreements also set up procedures to monitor working conditions.

Burger King is the next restaurant chain being asked to pay the extra penny per pound. Yum Foods offered to help Burger King work out an agreement, similar to their own, with the Coalition.

Initially, Burger King agreed to join the other fast-food giants. However, they did an about face and proposed an alternative "solution" to low farm worker wages. They would retrain the workers to be employees of Burger King.

To our shame, we in this area have done nothing to help the farm workers. This is changing. In December, we will actively campaign to pressure Burger King to work with the Coalition. For information, call 522-0252.

Terry Buckenmeyer

St. Augustine