Florida tomato workers, Taco Bell reach deal on wages, conditions

Published: 2005-03-15

ORLANDO, Fla. (CNS) -- Florida farmworkers and Taco Bell have reached an agreement to improve wages and working conditions in the tomato industry. The agreement was reached March 8 by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and Taco Bell, a division of Yum! Brands and the largest Mexican-style, fast-food chain in the country. It calls for an increase of a penny per pound in the price the company pays for tomatoes and for the company to work with the coalition to improve working conditions in the tomato industry. Since 2001, the coalition had led a grass-roots campaign to boycott Taco Bell. Under the agreement the coalition will end its boycott. Bishop John J. Nevins of Venice has worked with the farmworkers on efforts to reach an agreement that included joining marches and prayer services. He said the coalition's success would not have been possible without the grass-roots involvement of people throughout the nation and "all the faithful, our parishes and other church organizations that endorsed the boycott and remained in solidarity with the coalition during this struggle."

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