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GUEST: Gerardo Reyes, staff member with Coalition of Immokalee Workers

A few weeks ago we informed you about how tomato pickers in Florida were targeting McDonald’s corporation for better working conditions, five years after their victory with Taco Bell. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers in South West Florida had planned a Truth Tour in Chicago this weekend where they planned to demonstrate in front of McDonald’s Corporate Headquarters, when they reached an agreement with McDonald’s USA, and its suppliers for better working conditions and improved wages. The parties negotiated and announced the agreement this past Monday at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Effective at the start of the 2007 growing season, McDonalds will pay an additional penny per pound to workers who pick tomatoes for McDonald’s. The wage increase will more than double the current pay rate for farm workers. The accord will also establish a new code of conduct for tomato growers based on worker participation a third party verification system of compliance. The terms agreed upon mark the end of a successful two year campaign against McDonalds which followed a previous and victorious four year boycott against Taco Bell. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers has now launched a new campaign against Burger King Corporation.

For more information visit www.ciw-online.org.