McDonald's farmworker raise fought by growers

Source: Chicago Tribune

McDonald's farmworker raise fought by growers

By Mike Hughlett

Tribune staff reporter

November 6, 2007

McDonald's Corp.'s high-profile deal to raise wages for Florida tomato pickers appears to have run into a major obstacle: Florida's tomato farmers.

The Oak Brook-based restaurant giant announced last spring that it would pay a penny per pound more to Florida field hands who pick its tomatoes, a deal brokered by former President Jimmy Carter's Carter Center. The agreement followed an earlier penny-per-pound pledge by Yum Brands Inc., owner of Taco Bell and other restaurant chains.

But Monday, the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, a group representing more than 90 percent of the state's tomato farmers, said the Yum and McDonald's deals "will not be executed and now are considered moot."

Even though growers aren't responsible for paying the extra penny per pound -- McDonald's and Yum are -- they object to a third party getting involved in setting pickers' wages.

The group's declaration comes seven months after McDonald's agreed to the deal but just as tomato picking goes into full swing in Florida.

"We are starting our season and we don't want any misunderstanding to occur," said Reggie Brown, executive vice president of the growers exchange.

(...)

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-tue_mcd_1106nov06,0,7062018,print.story

:evilgrin:

they offered to pay for it, so the growers don't have to pay any more, but the growers STILL object.

That would set a terrible standard for the growers. First it's a penny raise this millenium and who knows what it might lead to? A dollar an hour by 2150. :cry:

I thought I was reading it wrong... I don't understand why these people are against this.

Too true. The CIW has been kicking ass on this kind of issue for decades, now - you may recall the "Yo No Queiro Taco Bell" hunger strike from the mid-90s. If I seem a bit biased, it's because this town is where I was raised. :)