Publix Secretly Films Labor Protesters to Avoid Paying Farmworkers

by Amanda Kloer

categories: Human Trafficking Awareness, Human Trafficking in the US, Labor Trafficking and Trade

Published October 26, 2009 @ 04:54PM PT

Over 100 farmworkers, many of whom pick tomatoes for a living, protested outside a Publix grocery store this weekend to demand an end to exploitative labor practices and a fair price for tomatoes. This protest was on the heels of several others, which a Publix associate had been secretly filming and lying about. Produce and espionage -- now there's two things you rarely hear about together.

Publix has refused to enter into an agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to ensure that the some of the price increase of tomatoes makes it to the workers in the fields. So CIW and their supporters began to protest. And how did Publix respond? Like any Southern grocery chain would -- they send a spy. Thomas McGuigan, who works for Publix, began showing up at a number of the protests to film them. He told the protesters that he was an independent filmmaker and "old hippie" interested in protest culture. He followed them to several protests, lying to them about the nature and purpose of the filming. But as it turns out, he had agreed to turn all his footage over to Publix.

WTF, Publix? Did you really send a spy to infiltrate a group of peaceful protesters with a video camera to avoid agreeing not to exploit farmworkers? What are you now, the Bush administration? Reports from the protesters indicate that McGuigan was spending a disconcerting amount of time filming children at the protest. If Publix wants this footage to see how CIW and their allies are plotting to achieve justice for farmworkers, why are they focusing on the kids? Maybe Publix thinks they are the secret masterminds. Or maybe McGuigan's not the best filmmaker.

Michael Hoffman, Executive Director of the Center for Business Ethics at Bentley University in Massachusetts, has stated that Publix's filming was done under false pretenses and was unethical. He recommends they destroy the tape immediately. I second that motion. People have a right to protest you, Publix, especially when you refuse to take important steps towards protecting the people who produce the food you sell from exploitation. So buck up, work with CIW, and leave the espionage to the professionals. They are much, much better at it.

Photo credit: hyku