URGENT ACTION!!

THE HUNGER STRIKERS ARE ENTERING THE SECOND WEEK OF THEIR FAST OUTSIDE TACO BELL HQ....

**CALL YUM! BRANDS (TACO BELL'S PARENT COMPANY) CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS MONDAY, 3/3, AND TELL THEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HUNGER STRIKERS AND OPEN A MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE WITH CIW REPRESENTATIVES NOW!

CALL AT (502) 874-3820 OR FAX AT (502) 874-8315

LET THEM KNOW THAT IGNORING THE FASTERS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THEY MUST RECOGNIZE THE HUNGER STRIKERS AND MEET THEM NOW!

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CIW DEMANDS OF TACO BELL

The CIW is calling on Taco Bell to use its considerable leverage as a major buyer of Florida tomatoes to help bring about real changes in the wages and working conditions of the farmworkers who pick those tomatoes.

Specifically, workers are calling on Taco Bell to:

1. Convene a meaningful, three-part dialogue -- bringing together representatives of Taco Bell, their Florida tomato suppliers, and representatives of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers -- to discuss solutions to the problems farmworkers face in Florida's fields.

2. Contribute to an immediate increase in farmworker wages through a raise in the per pound rate Taco Bell pays for tomatoes from the Florida suppliers. [For example, a penny per pound increase, passed on in its entirety to the workers, could nearly double the current piece rate for tomatoes picked for Taco Bell.]

3. Join with CIW and tomato industry representatives in drafting a Code of Conduct for Taco Bell tomato suppliers that would define strict wage and working condition standards to be required of all Taco Bell tomato suppliers. Such a code would necessarily require respect for pickers' fundemental labor rights, including the right to a living wage and overtime, and the right to organize without fear of retaliation.

On Friday, February 28, 2003, my friends and I stepped into a local fast food restaurant. The Taco Bell on West Channel Islands Blvd., in Port Hueneme, CA, was our choice of hunger-satisfaction. Without knowing the current situation of the hunger strike, I went ahead and ordered some of my favorite Taco Bell dishes.

The tomatos on one of my dishes looked green. I unfortunately put my trust in Taco Bell and went ahead with eating the tomatos. My meal was very satisfying, but little did I know how bad it would affect me. At 3:30 am on Saturday, March 1, 2003, I awoke to pains in my stomach. Soon after, I began vomiting and continued to vomit throughout the day.

Now that I know about the hunger strike, and now that I know how greedy Taco Bell is, I am angry. The local Taco Bell is giving it's customers green, bad tomatos in order to save a few bucks. And meanwhile, I spent the entire day on Saturday reaping the benefits of their budgeting.

I didn't go to a doctor to get diagnosed with food poisoning. I avoided going to the emergency room, because unfortunately I don't have the time and money to sue Taco Bell for my hospital charges. But I do know that I am passing around the bad word about this local restaurant.

The Taco Bell on West Channel Islands Blvd., in Port Hueneme, CA, is a newer franchise. I usually receive bad customer service there and now I have been poisoned by them. And the corporation of Taco Bell is so heartless that they will give customers bad tomatos in order to save some cash.

Taco Bell must pay for their heartlessness and for poisoning me. I need the public's help in denouncing this one restaurant. It is only one small step towards acheiving a larger goal, but with each small step, we become closer.

just a tip. if you are going to stand in solidarity with these workers, park at least across the street. security is on super bitch alert and they will fuck with you even just cutting through the building's driveway to get to the parking garage on the same block.