Over 200 Religious Leaders Sign a Letter Sent to Reynolds CEO on Behalf of Tobacco Farm Workers
The Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) is seeking to address labor and human rights abuses suffered by farm workers who pick tobacco, such as sub-minimum wages, child labor, heat stroke, pesticide poisoning, uninhabitable housing, green tobacco sickness, lack of water, lack of breaks, and fatalities. Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) is one of the largest tobacco [...]
Memorials for Joan Papert Preiss, Farm Worker Activist
by Virginia Nesmith Former National Farm Worker Ministry Board Member Joan Papert Preiss, passed away on June 1, 2012 in Durham, North Carolina. Joan was an amazing woman - as her obituary published in the Raleigh News & Observer attests to, and re-printed below. While those of us at NFWM knew of her love of family and [...]
Pioneers of the Farm Worker Movement Honored by Obama Administration
by NFWM Director Virginia Nesmith I was honored to be part of a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) event that lifted farm workers up for national recognition. On March 26th, the “Pioneers of the Farm Worker Movement” were inducted into the DOL’s Hall of Honor and the Cesar Chavez Auditorium was dedicated. The event was [...]
MSNBC Reporting Describes Same Farm Worker Housing Conditions Seen by NFWM Delegation
On October 7th, NFWM led a delegation of religious leaders to North Carolina to visit farm worker labor camps there with staff of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee(FLOC). Members of the National Council of Churches Justice and Advocacy Commission and representatives of the United Methodist Church and the Alliance of Baptists saw for themselves the [...]
Oxfam & FLOC Release New Report
“A company’s responsibility to respect [human rights] applies across its business activities and through its relationship with third parties connected with those activities—such as business partners, entities in its value chain, and other non-state actors and state agents.” – James Ruggie, UN special representative On September 18, 2011, Oxfam America and the Farm Labor Organizing [...]
Farm Worker Supporters Strong Presence at Reynold’s Shareholders Meeting
Supporters of human rights and justice joined the National Farm Worker Ministry and the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on Friday May 7, 2010 where Reynolds Tobacco held its annual shareholders meeting.
More than 30 farm worker supporters gained access to the meeting by purchasing a share of the company’s stock or by representing someone, through a proxy, who owned one. These included several NFWM staff and Youth and Young Adult Network (YAYA) members from Florida.
Those inside used the question and answer period to create a dominating presence inside the meeting, giving voice to the real human rights situation for tobacco farm workers in the fields of North Carolina. At the conclusion of the meeting, Rev. Carlton Eversley, President of the Ministers’ Conference of Winston-Salem led the group out singing a civil-rights spiritual.
Walk with NFWM & FLOC during the North Carolina Pilgrimage for Justice & Peace
Join NFWM & FLOC on Wednesday, March 31 when the North Carolina Pilgrimage for Justice and Peace is in the Winston-Salem area to support farm workers. Walk to celebrate Cesar Chavez’s birthday. Walk to honor the men, women & children who plant & harvest our food. Walk to remember farm workers who’ve died in the fields. Walk to demand justice for farm workers who pick Reynolds’ Tobacco.
You can join the march at any point. The 15 mile walk begins at 8:30 am across the street from Reynolds’ tobacco processing plant in Tobaccoville and finishes at 5:00 pm at the Reynolds headquarters in downtown Winston-Salem. The day ends with dinner and a foot washing ceremony at Green Street United Methodist Church at 6:00pm.
CLICK HERE for a map with details for the day, including all stops, activities, and walking time estimates.
Click on Flyer image for the Walk with FLOC Pilgrimage Flyer.
NFWM Board in North Carolina to Support Tobacco Farm Workers
On Friday August 7th, the Board and Staff of the National Farm Worker Ministry were joined by NFWM supporters and clergy from North Carolina for a day of activities in support of farm workers who toil in tobacco fields, inclulding a moving service held at a tobacco field honoring the sacrifices of farm workers.
Reynolds Tobacco’s 2009 Annual Shareholders Meeting – NOT Business as Ususal!
On May 6th, NFWM, FLOC, farm workers and other allies gathered in Winston Salem, NC for a day of actions during the annual shareholders meeting of Reynolds Tobacco (RAI). We were there to tell Reynolds’ management and shareholders that farm workers are stakeholders too!
The day began with a brief prayer service outside of Reynolds led by Kevin Todd, Duke Divinity Field Education Intern at NFWM NC. Together, they read the Litany, “Give us hope in a new day in which all women and men will know justice, peace, equality, and love; A new day when we will no longer need to gather to STRUGGLE for justice but will gather to CELEBRATE justice.”
Join Us at Reynolds Tobacco Shareholder Meeting – May 6th
The Annual Shareholders Meeting of Reynolds Tobacco (RAI) will be held on Wednesday, May 6 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. As these decision-makers for Reynolds Tobacco meet, the National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM), the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) and farm worker supporters will be there to tell Reynolds’ management and shareholders that farm workers are stakeholders too!
JOIN US ON MAY 6TH. FLYER WITH MAP HERE.
For more information about the FLOC/Reynolds Tobacco Campaign, click here.
