The Coalition of Immokalee Workers made a long roadtrip from Florida to Denver last week, to combat the lack of transparency from Chipotle management regarding tomato-buying practices that cut workers out of ethical wages.
When CIW got to Denver, they made an October 5th presentation at 6th Avenue UCC. After worship concluded, several church members followed the campaign to the original Chipotle restaurant in South Denver for an afternoon demonstration.
Monday was a long day for the farm laborers, students, and coalition leaders. They camped out at the Chipotle headquarters downtown - not only all day, but also during an all-night vigil. Rev. Malcolm Himschoot attended the delegation meeting that afternoon. Pastor Anne Dunlap played guitar for the group that night. No conclusive answer to CIW's demands was given by Chipotle executives.
For ten years, the United Church of Christ has been in support of CIW campaigns toward worker justice in the tomato fields, beginning with the UCC congregation in Sanibel, Florida.
Though no state (except California) recognizes the right of farmworkers to collective bargaining, human rights, or fair wages, this non-profit and faith-based campaign has had success with McDonald's, Burger King, and Yum! brand restaurants to pressure tomato growers to accept CIW's code of conduct and "a penny more per pound." The UCC denomination, through General Synod, signed onto the consumer boycott of Taco Bell in 2003. This boycott was eventually successful.
Immokalee is a small-town community of Latino and Haitian residents, but their mobilization toward justice benefits migrant tomato farmers up and down the southern coast.
