FTGE members reaffirm unified stand against 'penny-per-pound' deals
FTGE members reaffirm unified stand against 'penny-per-pound' deals
"Florida Tomato Growers Exchange members united since last spring against penny-per-pound deals, and they reaffirmed it at our annual meeting in the fall," said Reggie Brown, executive vice president of the organization. "We are currently starting our season and we do not want there to be any misunderstanding in this issue. We want it known that we continue our firm conviction."
In effect, growers who sold tomatoes to Yum! Brands under the penny-per- pound deal last season will not participate in the penny-per-pound arrangement this year. Agreements will not be executed and are now considered moot, the exchange announced Nov. 5, citing concerns over federal and state laws related to antitrust, labor and racketeering. Mr. Brown added that the penny-per-pound deal is also unethical and is an attempt to unify workers by using fraudulent claims.
The issue involves the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, which joined with McDonald's USA in mid-April (see The Produce News, April 16, 2007) to announce an agreement wherein beginning with the 2007 Florida tomato season production, McDonald's would pay CIW one penny per pound for Florida tomatoes that it purchases for its 13,000 U.S. restaurants. The money is designated to farmworker needs. The agreement was McDonald's response to a boycott similar to what the coalition presented to Yum! Brands Inc. in 2001, which was preceded by an agreement between the two organizations that Yum! would pay a penny per pound extra for tomatoes, with proceeds designated to worker wages. A similar boycott was also levied upon Miami- based Burger King, which responded in a statement that it cannot control what its suppliers pay their workers.
"McDonald's cannot go through with their deals with FTGE tomato producers because we are not supporting this action," Mr. Brown said. "They can go anywhere they want to buy tomatoes, but we're not going to participate with the penny-per-pound scheme. We are attracting an adequate workforce and compensating it very well."
Mr. Brown added that Florida tomato growers operate as socially accountable farm employers. They participate in comprehensive programs that certify employment, health, housing and safety practices.
According to payroll records required by the government from the current 2006-07 season, Florida tomato harvesters' rates ranged from $10.50 per hour to $14.86 per hour, with an average wage of $12.46 per hour. Harvesters earn more than double the current federal minimum wage of $5.85 per hour and nearly double Florida's minimum wage of $6.67 per hour. The farmworkers harvest tomatoes an average of 25 to 30 hours per week in addition to other tasks on the farm.
"We are proud of our third-party audit with SAFE, which we have employed on an ongoing basis for two years," Mr. Brown said in reference to Safety Advancement for Employees. "Our grower-members are good, responsible companies that do not engage in slavery, and we will not fall victim to an effort by a labor-organizing entity attempting to use a backdoor way of organizing labor."
In effect, growers who sold tomatoes to Yum! Brands under the penny-per- pound deal last season will not participate in the penny-per-pound arrangement this year. Agreements will not be executed and are now considered moot, the exchange announced Nov. 5, citing concerns over federal and state laws related to antitrust, labor and racketeering. Mr. Brown added that the penny-per-pound deal is also unethical and is an attempt to unify workers by using fraudulent claims.
The issue involves the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, which joined with McDonald's USA in mid-April (see The Produce News, April 16, 2007) to announce an agreement wherein beginning with the 2007 Florida tomato season production, McDonald's would pay CIW one penny per pound for Florida tomatoes that it purchases for its 13,000 U.S. restaurants. The money is designated to farmworker needs. The agreement was McDonald's response to a boycott similar to what the coalition presented to Yum! Brands Inc. in 2001, which was preceded by an agreement between the two organizations that Yum! would pay a penny per pound extra for tomatoes, with proceeds designated to worker wages. A similar boycott was also levied upon Miami- based Burger King, which responded in a statement that it cannot control what its suppliers pay their workers.
"McDonald's cannot go through with their deals with FTGE tomato producers because we are not supporting this action," Mr. Brown said. "They can go anywhere they want to buy tomatoes, but we're not going to participate with the penny-per-pound scheme. We are attracting an adequate workforce and compensating it very well."
Mr. Brown added that Florida tomato growers operate as socially accountable farm employers. They participate in comprehensive programs that certify employment, health, housing and safety practices.
According to payroll records required by the government from the current 2006-07 season, Florida tomato harvesters' rates ranged from $10.50 per hour to $14.86 per hour, with an average wage of $12.46 per hour. Harvesters earn more than double the current federal minimum wage of $5.85 per hour and nearly double Florida's minimum wage of $6.67 per hour. The farmworkers harvest tomatoes an average of 25 to 30 hours per week in addition to other tasks on the farm.
"We are proud of our third-party audit with SAFE, which we have employed on an ongoing basis for two years," Mr. Brown said in reference to Safety Advancement for Employees. "Our grower-members are good, responsible companies that do not engage in slavery, and we will not fall victim to an effort by a labor-organizing entity attempting to use a backdoor way of organizing labor."
