Resources
The Slave Next Door: Human Trafficking and Slavery in America Today
By Kevin Bales and Ron Soodalter. You can purchase this book in its entirety or click on the link above to read an extended excerpt about agricultural slavery.
Spector of Slavery Persists in the Fields
Press Release from CIW-Subway Agreement
CIW-Burger King Corp. Press Release
Facts and Figures on Farmworker Poverty
Anti-slavery International Background Piece on CIW and Forced Labor in the Agricultural Industry
Slavery in the Fields and the Food We Eat
"Slave Labour that shames America: Migrant workers chained beaten and forced into debt, exposing the human cost of producing cheap food." A Dec 19, 2007 front-page special by the British publication The Independent about the newest slavery investigation in the Florida tomato industry.
Excerpts from Religious Leaders' Statements on the Campaign for Fair Food.
"Burger King Grants Raise to Pickers" May 24, 2008 New York Times Article
Statement on CIW-Burger King agreement by
Bishop Murphy, Chair, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.
Burger King Campaign (successful 5/23/08)
"Penny Foolish," a New York Times editorial by Eric Schlosser. An excellent piece, Nov 29, 2007, that addresses the connection between Burger King and the sub-poverty wages of tomato pickers.
"Injustice in a Whopper." Religion and Spirituality.com article by Rev. Ben Daniel, Foothill Presbyterian Church, San Jose
Rev. Siladi, UCC FL Conference Minister, speaks at Burger King.November 2007: Open Religious Leaders' Letter to Burger King signed by over 100 National and Florida Religious Leaders.
Statement to Burger King and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange by the Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Letter from Archbishop Favalora to Burger King on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Florida.
Excerpts from Religious Leaders Statements on the Campaign for Fair Food:
The Rev. Michael Livingston (President, National Council of Churches USA)
"This agreement [CIW-McDonald’s] represents a tremendous step forward in the struggle for dignity and justice for farmworkers and the transformation of the agricultural industry toward greater respect for human rights. Though an incredible victory, our celebration should be tempered by the truth that we still have far to go to extend these just gains for farmworkers to other companies and to create a truly just food system. Yes, we mean you Burger King as well as Subway and Chipotle and all the rest of the fast-food companies who continue to offer explanations, rationales, and excuses for business practices and policies that do not meet the standard of a basic tenant of Christianity--treat your neighbor as yourself--and do not reflect the just relations all our faith traditions call us to create in this world. Burger King, you're next; get your penny ready!"
Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
“The Coalition of Immokalee Workers has long fought for the human rights and dignity of farmworkers, forging a strong national network of community activists, religious organizations, student groups, and local and national leaders committed to helping farmworkers improve their lives…. Farm workers too often lack adequate wages and reasonable working conditions. Because they know best the problems that need to be remedied, it is vitally important that they have an effective voice in efforts to improve work conditions.”
The Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick (Stated Clerk, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
“We do this [support the CIW] because scripture calls us to be stewards of God’s creation, which includes our economic life, and because we follow Jesus Christ who, as a poor man himself, inaugurated his own ministry by bringing “good news to the poor.” . . . Any corporation which benefits through the exploitation of others is gravely implicated in such exploitation and has a moral and ethical responsibility to end that exploitation.”
The Rev. Linda Jaramillo (Executive Minister, Justice & Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ)
“The United Church of Christ has a long history of working for social and economic justice. We have a special interest in farm workers, people with whom Jesus would have particularly identified himself. He would have classified them among “the least” of God children when viewed through the lens of social and economic privilege. But as beloved children of God, farm workers are entitled to an equitable portion of the abundance God gives this world.”
The Rt. Rev. Leo Frade (Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida)
“The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) has established a working model for corporate social responsibility that advances and ensures the human rights of farmworkers in the corporate supply chain… McDonald’s has now joined Yum Brands in partnering with the CIW, and it is only a matter of time before other fast-food corporations will realize they too must respond to the call for justice and respect for the human rights of farmworkers… Like Episcopalians around the country, [we] are standing with the CIW in the growing movement for fair food and corporate social responsibility, and will continue to do so until justice and dignity are won.”
Robert Keithan (Director of the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Washington Office on Advocacy)
“The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations has a long-standing commitment to supporting the health and well-being of farm workers. While progress has been made since our first policy statement in 1961, we know that many farm workers in the United States still face harsh and often unsafe working conditions for unlivable wages and no benefits. These conditions are not in line with the ethical values we believe should be upheld by major American corporations.”
Resources on the Campaign for Fair Food are also available on the following sites:
