The National Farm Worker Ministry congratulates the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and Chipotle Mexican Grill on the October 4th signing of the Fair Food Agreement! We thank our many supporters who wrote letters, visited stores, marched with the CIW and worked tirelessly to bring a message of fairness and equality on behalf of tomato farm workers in Florida and beyond.
Moving forward we will continue to partner with the CIW to broaden the base of support for the Fair Food Campaign through education and information throughout our network. We stand ready to respond to the needs and requests of the CIW, until Florida tomoto pickers have the wages, working conditions and grievance procedures provided by the Fair Food Agreements.
Thank You,
Bert Perry (NFWM Florida Organizer)
From left to right, the CIW’s Oscar Otzoy, Chipotle’s Chris Arnold, and the CIW’s Gerardo Reyes, joined in the background by student and faith allies, from the October 4th signing ceremony at Chipotle’s Denver headquarters.
For complete coverage of this development, make sure to visit the Coalition of Immokalee Workers online.
CIW & Chipotle Agreement Press Release:
CHIPOTLE SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH CIW TO JOIN FAIR FOOD PROGRAM
The Fair Food Program provides a bonus for tomato pickers to improve wages and binds growers to protocols and a code of conduct that explicitly include a voice for workers in health and safety issues, worker-to-worker education on the new protections under the code, and a complaint resolution procedure which workers can use without fear of retaliation. The Program also provides for independent third party audits to ensure compliance.
“With this agreement, we are laying down a foundation upon which we all – workers, growers, and Chipotle – can build a stronger Florida tomato industry for the future,” said Gerardo Reyes of the CIW. “But more than this, today’s news marks a turning point in the sustainable food movement as a whole, whereby, thanks to Chipotle’s leadership, farmworkers are finally recognized as true partners — every bit as vital as farmers, chefs, and restaurants — in bringing ‘good food’ to our tables.”
“Chipotle has an unmatched track record driving positive change in the nation’s food supply and is continuously working to find better, more sustainable sources for all of the ingredients we use — sources that produce food in ways that demonstrate respect for the land, farm animals, and the people involved,” said Chris Arnold, communications director at Chipotle. “We believe that this agreement underscores our long-standing commitment to the people who produce the food we serve in our restaurants.”
Chipotle becomes the 11th company to join the CIW’s Fair Food Program, which is designed to create a sustainable tomato industry through respect for the rights and concerns of all involved. The Fair Food Premium paid by participating buyers like Chipotle is used to help participating growers improve wages and working conditions for Florida farmworkers.
