Victory: Chipotle, Tomato Growers Commit to End Slavery

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

Published September 11, 2009 @ 06:20AM PT

Once again, Change.org members have spoken and a company has listened! Yesterday marked a huge victory for workers in the Florida tomato industry -- both the East Coast Growers and Packers company and Chipotle have agreed to work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to implement penny-per-pound wage increases, supply chain transparency, and a code of conduct that prevents slavery. Thanks to the hundreds of Change.org members who sent letters to Chipotle asking them to take a stand against slavery!

Last week, Chipotle gave a detailed response to the petitions Change.org members were sending them, which was both sophisticated and honest (and therefore rare to hear from a corporate PR statement). They explained one of the problems in the very complicated tomato industry was that the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange (FTGE), a special-interest group for the industry, was blocking the payment mechanism, so Chipotle had no guarantee their extra money was actually reaching the workers. This week, however, East Coast Growers and Packers, one of Florida's largest tomato growers, agreed to pass on the cash and work with Chipotle and CIW. FTGE, which controlls massive portions of the industry, still hasn't removed their heads from their butts in order to talk with CIW, but I'm hoping the smell -- or a little more Change.org activism -- will drive them out soon.

This victory is huge not just because it will help prevent slavery and exploitation of tomato harvesters, but because the engagement of growers means that many companies have lost their excuse for inaction -- the claim that they couldn't know if they money was actually getting to the workers. Now, companies like Publix, Kroger, Sodexo, Aramark, Wendy's, Quizno's, Costco, and WalMart who have been shirking their basic responsibilties to support human rights and fair pay are on the hook for real; they better stand up against slavery or face the floods of petitions coming from the Change.org community.

You can thank and congratulate CIW, East Coast Growers and Packers, and Chipotle with a comment here. And you can also enjoy a thick, juicy burrito knowing that you're buying and biting into a company that stands with workers and against slavery ... with integrity.

Photo credit: Chipotle by Sunset by Soundman1024

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Comments (12)

This is good news! :-)

Posted by Kathy Jackson on 09/11/2009 @ 09:32AM PT
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Amazing news. I can remember the CIW's first victory with Taco Bell many years ago...and from there the restaurants just keep falling down. So good to see this victory, and way to rock it out on the human trafficking blog! Two victories in less than two days!

Posted by Michael Jones on 09/11/2009 @ 09:36AM PT
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Thanks for stepping up Chipotle and bringing ethics to the food chain. If you were in Australia, I'd buy your burritos. The alternatives on offer are sad and unforgiving.

Posted by Oceania OZ on 09/12/2009 @ 02:43AM PT
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For the past 40 years, we have watched as Corporate Share Holders have demanded and gotten profits at the cost of labor.

Thirty years of sweet, blood and tears to create the American Middle Class Blue Collar worker has been destroyed by legislation moving the jobs off shore to be replaced by lower income service jobs at Global Corporate owned franchised non union businesses. And many other previously illegal business enterprises.

We will not even get into all the illegal business changes for the Wall Street Thieves.

Now our politicians spend most of their time working to keep all the low paid Americans divided by religion, ethnic groups, or whatever they can make work, so has not have them unite in unionism of any kind to demand their fair share.

The sad thing about all this is that these Americans are so into their comfort zones, they refuse to be awakened to this truth and more important the truth of returning to spiritualism.

Don't be left behind - AWAKEN SPIRITUALY

Posted by Stephen Wells on 09/13/2009 @ 11:46AM PT
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I will consider eating there again...

Posted by Roxana Saavedra on 09/13/2009 @ 02:43PM PT
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This is good news indeed.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 09/14/2009 @ 04:01AM PT
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Thanks CIW, East Coast Growes and Packers, and Chipotle.

It's the RIGHT way to go.

:)

Posted by Damaris Constantino on 09/14/2009 @ 12:25PM PT
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I'll eat two this week and next week (having deprived myself for the last few weeks) and then see how things are progressing. Let's keep some light but firm pressure going.

Posted by Joy Sabl on 09/14/2009 @ 01:30PM PT
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It is good to see responsibility show it's worthy face. Thank you, for your action. Ethics is always in fashion. Common Sense in corporate decision making is so Gratifying. It was the right thing to do. Transplanted, ethical treatment, fair wages, to the labor done, should be universal. You made the first step toward the stewardship, that should have been your motto. But, hey, a step forward to the right path, is a step forward. Bravo.

Posted by KayM Moore on 09/14/2009 @ 04:38PM PT
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Its great to see this happen. This is a complicated issue and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers have done a wonderful job of working with multiple corporations and interest groups.

John Berger

The Emancipation Network

http://www.madebysurvivors.com

Posted by TEN Charities on 09/15/2009 @ 08:39AM PT
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I really like their food and am happy that I will be able to eat there again.

Posted by Michele Rodriguez on 09/15/2009 @ 05:55PM PT
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Yea! Thanks Chipotle, ECGP, and CIW! I really appreciate your stepping up to insist on better conditions in your supply chain. I'm so glad I can eat your burritos knowing that your tomato suppliers have received a raise.

Posted by Gwendolyn Woods on 09/17/2009 @ 05:04PM PT
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Author

Amanda has been a full-time abolitionist for six years. During that time, she has created reports, documentaries and training materials on human trafficking in the United States and around the world.