{"article":{"id":28887,"heading":"BOYCOTT TACO BELL ! HUNGER STRIKE BEGINS FEB 24!","author":"OCRC@MAIL.COM","created":"2003-02-13 23:50:27","modified":"2013-11-10 23:48:33","last_modified":"Mon, 11 Nov 2013 06:48:33","article":"

SUPPORT TOMATO PICKERS!!

MONDAY FEB 24 - HUNGER STRIKE BEGINS

FRIDAY FEB 28 - NATIONAL PROTEST @ TACO BELL HEADQUARTERS IN IRVINE

http:\/\/www.ciw-online.org<\/a>



Farmworkers and supporters cry: “We’d rather go hungry than eat sweatshop tacos!”

IRVINE, CA- On February 24, 2003, farmworkers from the Coalition of Immokalee

Workers and the CIW’s student, religious, and labor allies will begin a historic hunger strike. The action -- a hunger strike outside one of the world’s largest fast-food corporations -- is a powerful contradiction that will dramatically highlight the injustice of fast-food profits derived, in significant part, from farmworker poverty. The strike, which comes after a year of silence from Taco Bell executives, will culminate in a national convergence at Taco Bell headquarters on Friday, February 28.

“We are asking that people send representatives from their schools, churches,

community organizations and unions to fast in solidarity with the Immokalee tomato pickers as well as attend the demonstration on Friday, Feb. 28” says Francisca Cortez of the

CIW. “If people cant make it, they can still support our struggle by holding solidarity fasts, teach-ins or rallies during the week in their own cities.”

see: www.ciw-online.org

HISTORY: Since 1997, tomato pickers in Immokalee, Florida’s largest farmworker

community, have been organizing for the right to join in talks with the state’s corporate tomato growers to find ways to improve farm labor conditions and raise the crop picking-piece rate. Despite signature drives, three general strikes, marches, and a 30-day hunger strike by six members of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) - ultimately ended by the intervention of former President Jimmy Carter - the growers continue to refuse to meet with farm worker representatives and have only marginally raised wages.

When workers discovered that Taco Bell is a major buyer of the tomatoes they pick, they informed company executives in January, 2000 of the deplorable wages and working conditions in Florida’s fields and requested a meeting to discuss possible solutions. To date, Taco Bell has not addressed the concerns of the CIW, and the CIW continues to call for a boycott of Taco Bell.

IRVINE, CA- On Friday, Feb. 28th, a hunger strike by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and thier allies will culminate in a national convergence at Taco Bell HQ.

The hunger strike and demonstration outside one of the world’s largest fast-food corporations will dramatically highlight the injustice of fast-food profits derived, in significant part, from farmworker poverty.

see: www.ciw-online.org

HISTORY: Since 1997, tomato pickers in Immokalee, Florida’s largest farmworker

community, have been organizing for the right to join in talks with the state’s corporate tomato growers to find ways to improve farm labor conditions and raise the crop picking-piece rate. Despite signature drives, three general strikes, marches, and a 30-day hunger strike by six members of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) - ultimately ended by the intervention of former President Jimmy Carter - the growers continue to refuse to meet with farm worker representatives and have only marginally raised wages.

When workers discovered that Taco Bell is a major buyer of the tomatoes they pick, they informed company executives in January, 2000 of the deplorable wages and working conditions in Florida’s fields and requested a meeting to discuss possible solutions. To date, Taco Bell has not addressed the concerns of the CIW, and the CIW continues to

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