Chipotle agrees to raise farmers wages 64%
From the looks of things, Chipotle has stood by their word and have reached an agreement with Florida farmers that will pay the farmers 64% more for the tomatoes they pick for the Denver based burrito chain.
From @chipotlemedia and CBS MarketWatch…
Chipotle Reaches Agreement with Florida Tomato Grower to Improve Wages for Farm Workers – Accord with East Coast Farms Opens Doors to Better Wages, Working Conditions
DENVER, Sep 09, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Chipotle Mexican Grill, the chain of burrito restaurants known for serving Food With Integrity, announced that it has reached an agreement with East Coast Farms, one of Florida's largest tomato growers, under which workers who harvest tomatoes for Chipotle will receive an additional penny per pound, a wage increase of 64 percent, for tomatoes picked for Chipotle.
The agreement between Chipotle and East Coast Farms comes following months of discussion between Chipotle and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), a community-based organization that has led a campaign to improve wages and working conditions for Florida farm workers.
Similar agreements between other large tomato buyers, like Chipotle, and the CIW have been blocked by a Florida tomato industry cooperative. Under most of those agreements, money earmarked for farm workers is accumulating in escrow accounts rather than reaching the farm workers for whom it is intended. By working directly with East Coast Farms, Chipotle will be able to pass the additional wages directly to the workers.
The press release goes on, quoting Chipotle’s CEO, Steve Ellis and others ::
“We have a decade-long track record of working to improve the nation’s food supply system,” said Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle. “Our efforts have always been rooted in doing the right things, and in finding solutions that have a real impact. By working directly with East Coast Farms to improve wages and working conditions for workers who harvest tomatoes for Chipotle, we have taken another important step forward.”
Chipotle conducted an extensive review of growers to find one that was willing to do the right thing for workers. East Coast Farms, a leader in the industry, demonstrated a willingness to work with Chipotle to do what is right for their workers from the beginning.
“Chipotle has been a leader in driving change in the nation’s food supply,” said Batiste Madonia, sales manager with East Coast Farms. “When their representatives came to us to negotiate this agreement, we agreed that it was the right thing to do. With this framework in place, we hope to work with other companies that are looking to make similar improvements to wages and working conditions for Florida farm workers.”
Under the agreement with East Coast Farms, farm workers who pick tomatoes for Chipotle will see their pay go from $.50 for a 32-pound bucket, to $.82 for each 32-pound bucket of tomatoes they pick. That translates to a 64 percent increase for all of the tomatoes they pick for Chipotle.
“This agreement will make a difference in the lives of workers who pick tomatoes for Chipotle,” said Ells. “But our commitment goes well beyond this. We are constantly looking at all of the ingredients we use, and how we can use our purchasing power to improve conditions for farm workers, raise animal welfare standards, and minimize environmental impacts. These choices come at a price, giving Chipotle the highest food costs in the industry. But we continue to think it is the right way to run our business. It’s how we are changing the way people think about and eat fast food.”
I for one am glad to see Chipotle make a commitment to ethical treatment of employees — even those who are working for supplies further down the supply line. I hope they’ll market this advancement and show other companies that they too can do business ethically and responsibly — and continue to make these sort of advancements when they get wind of the any un-ethical treatment of workers elsewhere.
I also hope that folks will take the time to contact Chipotle and let them know you appreciate their efforts.
You can contact them via their website :: http://www.chipotle.com/#/flash/speak_comment
Via twitter :: @chipotlemedia
Or ::
Chipotle Mexican Grill
1401 Wynkoop Street, Suite 500
Denver CO 80202
Also, this is not a solution to the problem that still remains in Florida – farmers on other farms are still not getting their full wages as I understand. So I hope we can continue to put pressure on the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange – and companies like Burger King – who refuse to pay decent wages.
You can contact the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange at:
Reggie Brown
Executive Vice President
Florida Tomato Growers Exchange
800 Trafalgar Court, Suite 300
Maitland, FL 32751
(407) 660-1949
reggie.brown@floridatomatogrowers.org
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