Farm workers: ‘No more slaves, pay a living wage!’

A determined, multinational picket line was only a few yards away from the entrance of two Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants on April 14 in lower Manhattan. Led by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers from Florida, lively chants with supportive musicians from the Rude Mechanical Orchestra! gave this spirited protest much strength.

“Chipotle, shame on you! Farm workers deserve rights, too!” resounded through the neighborhood. For in spite of it being one of the fastest growing U.S. restaurant chains, Chipotle bosses refuse to commit to the Fair Food Program.

This means making a commitment to farm workers’ rights. Ninety percent of the tomatoes produced for New York come from Florida from November through May. The mostly Latino/a tomato workers suffer subpoverty wages, no right to overtime pay or right to organize, and sexual harassment. The CIW recently forced Trader Joe’s to agree to a Fair Food Program of paying a penny-per-pound premium for fairer wages and a strict code for better working conditions. Nine other corporate food retailers have signed on to this program.

Today’s protesters sent delegations to speak to managers of the two Chipotles being picketed. Without an agreement for fairness or for possible negotiations yet, the protest was nevertheless resolute. For blocks this loud chant was heard: ‘We’ll be back! And we’ll be stronger! We can’t take it any longer!”

—Report and photo by Anne Pruden