Boston march supports farm workers

The streets of Boston resounded to the sound of militant chanting by farmworkers and their supporters on Feb. 27. They were demanding justice and that the huge corporation, Stop and Shop, and its parent company Ahold agree to pay tomato pickers in Immokalee, Fla., one more cent per pound that they pick.

The 800 protesters marched from Copley Square in downtown Boston to the Super Stop and Shop in Brigham Circle. In a show of union solidarity, they were led by the sound truck from Steelworkers Local 8751, which represents Boston’s school bus drivers.

Despite the freezing cold weather, there was tremendous spirit, which could be heard as workers chanted, “One cent more!” “Justice now!” and “The people united will never be defeated!” All of Boston got the message.

This demonstration was part of a tour by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers that began on Feb. 25 and will end on March 5. It includes stops in Florida, North Carolina, Baltimore, New York City and Atlanta.

This workers’ organization is demanding that Ahold and its subsidiaries, Stop and Shop and Giant, sign a Fair Food agreement including a one-cent-per-pound increase in pay. McDonalds, Subway, Whole Foods and many other corporations have done so.

The prevailing wage for these workers is the same as it was 50 years ago; it would require a worker to pick 2.25 tons of tomatoes in order to earn Florida’s minimum wage in a 10-hour shift. Most workers earn less than $12,000 a year. They do not have the right to overtime pay, health insurance, pensions, or paid sick leave or vacation time. They do not have the right to organize to fight for their rights.

In extreme situations, workers are physically -- and often violently -- forced to work against their will in a modern version of slavery. Since 1997, nine cases of forced labor involving 1,200 workers in Florida’s fields have been prosecuted.