WASHINGTON, Dec 10 (OneWorld.net) - A community-based workers organization in Florida has secured a landmark agreement for better pay and working conditions from Subway, the world's third largest fast-food chain and biggest fast-food buyer of Florida tomatoes.
"Farm workers who pick tomatoes for the fast-food industry are among [the United States'] most exploited workers. They sometimes are held against their will, beaten, and forced to work for little or no pay. Thousands more are trying to survive with poverty wages, no overtime pay, no sick leave, and no freedom to join unions for a better life," states the AFL-CIO, an alliance of national and international labor unions.
Workers organizing for their rights in all parts of the world continue to face government repression and, in some countries, violent persecution and murder, says an annual report by the International Trade Union Confederation. The report highlights the United States as one of several industrialized nations that restricts laborers' freedom to form unions, citing in particular the George W. Bush administration's widely protested National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). AFL-CIO has the story.
According to his Web site, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama will push for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, a bipartisan initiative to protect workers' right to form unions. Obama also pledges to raise the minimum wage, protect workers' right to strike, and "is a cosponsor of legislation to overturn the NLRB's 'Kentucky River' decisions classifying hundreds of thousands of nurses, construction, and professional workers as 'supervisors' who are not protected by federal labor laws."
The campaign to bring better wages and improve working conditions to Florida's tomato fields took a big step last week when the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) reached agreement with Subway, the world's third largest fast-food chain and biggest fast-food buyer of Florida tomatoes.
Subway also joins other fast-food industry leaders and the CIW in calling on the Florida tomato industry to institute an industry-wide penny per pound surcharge to increase wages for all Florida tomato harvesters. That means the workers will get 72 cents to 77 cents for every 32-pound bucket of tomatoes they pick, up from 40 cents to 45 cents.
Subway is the latest restaurant or supermarket chain to sign an agreement with CIW. Yum! Brands, McDonald's, Burger King and Whole Foods Market all have signed pacts. Geraldo Reyes of CIW says:
With this agreement, the four largest restaurant companies in the world have now joined their voices to the growing call for a more modern, more humane agricultural industry in Florida. Now it is time for other fast-food companies and the supermarket industry to follow suit and for the promise of long-overdue labor reform in Florida's fields contained in these agreements to be made real.
The Subway/CIW pact also calls for a tougher supplier code of conduct that allows farm workers to help monitor the growers' compliance and includes strict "zero tolerance" guidelines for the most egregious labor rights violations. Subway also has voluntarily extended the higher standards to its entire supply chain, not just tomatoes.
Leading up to all the agreements, the AFL-CIO mobilized thousands of workers to march, rally and protest the injustice in the tomato fields.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who has championed the tomato workers' cause, says the new agreement is "yet another blow to the scourge of slavery that continues to exist in the tomato fields of Florida."
Subway is to be congratulated for moving to ensure that none of its products are harvested by slave or near-slave labor. Sadly, too many other companies continue to tolerate this travesty.
The tomato workers also picked up some high-profile support from the religious community. The Rev. Gradye Parsons, the top official of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), issued a statement praising the CIW and Subway for their agreement and challenging the remainder of the retail food industry to now follow suit.
Subway's decision sends an unmistakable message to the rest of the retail food industry and to Florida growers: The industry can and must ensure human rights for farm workers...
...Will the rest of the restaurant and grocery industry now step forward to become part of this momentous advance for human rights? The answer is not only up to the companies but to those of us who are conscious consumers as well.
A little more than a week ago, more than 80 human rights, labor, student, faith and community organizations-members of the Alliance for Fair Food-sent a letter to some 50 supermarket, restaurant and food service companies calling on them to join the fight for justice in the tomato fields. The letter says, in part:
It is vitally important that your company take an active role in advancing human rights and fair wages for farm workers given that your company's low-cost, high-volume tomato purchasing practices help to create conditions in the fields where poverty wages and other human rights abuses flourish. Through these purchasing practices, retail food companies such as yours share responsibility for farm worker poverty and human rights abuses. However, your company also has the power to be a leader by improving wages and conditions in your supply chain by working with the CIW to implement socially responsible purchasing practices.
The Subway agreement came the same day that CIW began a Northeast Fair Food Tour to 10 cities along the East Coast to educate people about their cause and to highlight the role supermarkets and restaurants can play in solving the problem.
The tour began in Miami and continues through Dec. 10 with stops in Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; Philadelphia; Boston; Providence, R.I.; New Haven and Milford, Conn.; and New York City. For more information and to follow the tour, click here.
OneWorld.net's take: A few years ago, Joanna and Alex Livieratos traded in their city lifestyle for a greener alternative. Here, Joanna discusses the new eco-friendly online retail business they run from their family farm and the adjustments they've made to promote environmentally sustainable living.
Green businesses are springing up across the United States. The alternative fuel gas station, BioFuel Oasis, sells the highest quality biofuel in the San Francisco Bay Area, and it also has a small store that sells healthy snacks and sustainable living supplies. In an interview with Co-op America, Margaret Farrow, one of the worker-owners of BioFuel Oasis, explains how biodiesel helps preserve the environment and what methods the business uses to produce their product.
Another sustainable business venture based in the United States is Etica Fair Trade Wines. Tiffany Tompkins' pioneering company recycles and buys used, offsets its carbon footprint, donates to U.S. scholarship funds, and supports social development initiatives in Argentina, Chile, and South Africa, where its Fair Trade wines are produced. Tompkin elaborates in an interview with Co-op America.
A couple of years ago, Joanna and Alex Livieratos decided to make a change. They were living in Chicago, with jobs as a teacher and a custom woodworker, when they decided to trade city life for country life -- and to establish a new business that they could run from their new farm.
"We sure had a thing or two to learn about country living," says Joanna. "But we did it with humility, and with a deep respect for our new way of life -- and most importantly, with a sense of humor. Now, when I head out to gather some free-range eggs from our chickens, pick a handful of organically raised greens, harvest walnuts from our towering trees, or can another winter's worth of vegetables, that is when I know it has all been worth it." We asked Joanna to tell us more about running an Internet-based business from a 22-acre farm.
Co-op America: What does your business do, and what are your most popular products?
Joanna Livieratos: The Greater Green is an online retail business born out of a passion for protecting our planet and all that is sacred upon it. Based out of rural, southwest Michigan, we offer a wide variety of eco-friendly, Fair Trade, organic, and locally made beauty, cleaning, culinary, baby, pet, and gift products.
By offering extensive product reviews and information on relevant eco-topics, we strive to help consumers simplify the decision-making process in an often confusing and overwhelming green marketplace. With our unique green rating system, consumers can choose products that fit their specific needs, whether they are just stepping into the green scene and are wondering how best to “go natural,” or are dedicated green consumers seeking out even more planet-friendly choices.
What makes your business green?
Joanna: Our family-owned business has blossomed from the basic belief that compassion and justice do have a place in the business world. We know that simply selling eco-friendly products is not enough- every business decision we make is based first and foremost on its environmental and social impacts for our planet. From purchasing 100% green energy shares for our home, farm, and store to partnering with Trees for the Future to plant one tree for every online order placed, to seeking out the greenest, most committed eco-friendly manufacturers, we are constantly trying to increase the positive impact we make. (You can read about it in on our Web site.)
We’ve also embarked upon a personal journey of sustainable living by leaving our very urban lifestyle and heading out to the country. You can read all about our adventures in our blog, Adventures in Eco-Living.
We are also very proud of our very attentive customer service. In response to the large, faceless corporate shopping Web sites that have emerged recently, we focus much of our energy on providing personal and responsive customer service. We love it when customers call in to ask about how to go green, what products might work for their personal situations, or to share their experiences with green products! We still treat every customer as if they are our very first and most important.
What did you do before you started your green business?
Joanna: After nearly 30 years of urban living, we realized it was time for a new adventure. We left our small space in Chicago and moved to over 20 acres of wooded farmland in rural Michigan to reconnect with a way of life lost and unknown to us. Moving to the country was an adventure beyond our wildest dreams! Neither my husband nor I had ever even had a garden! Our dream was to grow more connected to nature, and live a simpler, more sustainable way of life.
Though I loved my job as an elementary and middle school teacher, and had spent much time and energy acquiring my Masters in Teaching, we wanted to work toward living off our land, which meant a shift in my career. I needed to be able to work from home in order to put the necessary amount of time into building our farm and our store.
We currently raise Certified Naturally Grown seedlings and vegetables to sell at local farmer’s markets, and grow much of our own food. Starting a business that reflected our desire to live in harmony with our planet, and to help others do the same, was a natural outcome of our move. It also made sense to incorporate my experience as a teacher into our Web site, designing it to be not only a place to shop, but an educational resource as well.
Whathave been some of the biggest challenges of maintaining high standards of social and environmental responsibility?
Joanna: We struggled with choosing products that were 100 percent natural, especially as more and more eco-friendly companies are disclosing ingredients that turn out to include some synthetic chemicals, and as “greenwashing” becomes more predominant. Knowing there are varying degrees of eco-friendliness, we wanted to create a way to help consumers make informed decisions about the products they use.
That is why we came up with The Greater Green Screen, a rating system designed to assess products based on their eco-friendliness and naturalness. Such a system empowers individuals to become informed consumers -- one of the most important aspects in effectively navigating the green market place. It also helps us to take an in-depth look at green products and ensure that they meet our eco-friendly standards.
What's been your proudest moment as a green business owner?
Joanna: After nearly a year of carrying only products manufactured by others, I'm very proud that in October 2008, we launched our very own product line of sustainable wood cutting boards. These beautiful and durable designs are created by my husband, Alex, a master craftsman, who uses locally and sustainably harvested wood, often taken from our very own forest. By sourcing materials from our own community, we have a vested interest in making sure that those materials are harvested safely, sustainably, and with the overall goal of preserving the integrity of our eco-system.
What is the most hopeful sign you've seen recently in the green economy?
Joanna: I am so inspired by all of the people that are joining the green movement. I have friends and family that, after years of skepticism, are diving head-on into a more eco-friendly lifestyle. I also have been hearing many people say that this holiday season they want to give “presents with a meaning” -- green items that serve a greater purpose. I think this is so exciting! We as a culture are coming together and working toward a larger purpose, understanding our shared presence on this planet.
What advice would you give to green entrepreneurs just starting out?
Joanna: I think I underestimated the challenges of becoming an entrepreneur, but also the rewards, which have made it all worthwhile! Living your dream and running a business that is a true reflection of your vision for our planet and its people is so incredibly fulfilling. You just have to face each day and each challenge through the lens of your vision and with a sense of humor and humility, and never give up. The global economy is ripe for change, and it is in large part due to the daring and the dedication of brave new green entrepreneurs that we have come so far already.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help -- you don’t have to learn everything by yourself! There are so many other green entrepreneurs out there who are full of great advice and trial-by-experience wisdom. Unlike the business world in general, I find that green business owners tend to be supportive, not competitive, and I think this is because we run our businesses with compassion and a vision for a better world.
What's the next green step you're working on right now?
Joanna: We are about to undertake a site analysis for a combination wind- and solar-powered energy system for our home, farm, and business. We can’t wait! Alex’s line of sustainable wood cutting boards will be expanding to include other household wood items, like knife blocks and jewelry boxes, and I have just started designing eco-friendly necklaces with sustainable tagua nut (“vegetable ivory”) pendants. We are also hoping to continue to find lesser-known, green manufacturers with fabulous products to introduce to eager green consumers. It is an exciting time to be in the business of green!
What green product could you not live without?
Joanna:My husband’s family is Greek, and we go through literally gallons of olive oil. We just love A Taste of the Holy Land’s Fair Trade & Organic Olive Oil. My husband says it reminds him of the olive oil his family used to make back on their island, Kephalonia. Organic vegetables and free-range, grass-fed beef and pork from Lake Village Homestead in southwest Michigan are a must-have at every meal! And Nissa and Paprika, our four-footed friends, want to send a shout-out to the folks at Paw Naturaw for their wholesome, organic dog food!
Looking for meaningful gifts for your family and friends this holiday season? With OneWorld's Gift Guide the possibilities are endless! Find hundreds of gift ideas from nonprofits across the nation -- save time AND make a difference!
OneWorld.net's take: Opposition by an indigenous community in Botswana and an international
organization supporting tribal peoples has pushed a premier diamond
company to halt operations on the land of the Kalahari Bushmen in Botswana.
Bushman children, Botswana 2004.
Diamond exploration in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve has had a devastating impact on the life and the environment of the indigenous San people, also known as "Bushmen," say indigenous rights groups. Although the Reserve was created to protect the Bushmen, the discovery of bountiful diamond deposits in the 1980s resulted in the eviction of tribal people starting in 1997. Additional waves of forced relocation in 2002 and 2005 pushed almost all remaining Bushmen into relocation camps, where they began to experience -- for the first time in their history -- widespread depression, alcoholism, and diseases including AIDS, according to Survival International, a nonprofit group that
helps indigenous communities worldwide petition for their rights.
Although the Botswana High Court recognizes Bushman's right to live on the Reserve, hundreds remain in relocation camps, unable to return home because the government won't let them hunt or use their
water borehole, according to Survival's reports from the region.
For more information about indigenous rights, politics, and development in Botswana, see OneWorld UK's Botswana country guide.
Bushmen and Survival force De Beers withdrawal from Kalahari reserve
Following pressure from Survival International, De Beers says it has stopped operations on the land of the Kalahari Bushmen in Botswana because those it consulted, including Bushmen living inside
the reserve, did not agree with its plan to explore for diamonds near a
Bushman community.
De Beers began its latest operations in the Central Kalahari Game
Reserve only last month. The company says it has no intention of
carrying out any further activity there, and will not do so unless and
until a sustainable, long-term management plan is agreed.
This is a huge victory for the Bushmen – but diamond mining still
threatens their survival. De Beers retains a number of prospecting
licences in the reserve.
Another diamond company, Gem Diamonds, is also prospecting inside the
reserve. Although it claims to have some local support, it is operating
while Bushmen are still being bullied and harassed and are unable to
get any proper legal advice. This puts the Bushmen in no position to
agree fairly to anything. Despite the Botswana High Court’s 2006 ruling
affirming the Bushmen’s rights, the government is still preventing them
from accessing their water borehole and forbids hunting.
Bushmen have told Survival that until all those unlawfully evicted are
allowed back on their land with access to water and hunting permits,
they consider diamonds mined by Gem to be tainted. One said, ‘It is a
lie that Gem is doing anything for the Bushmen. They do not care about
us – they only work with the government.’
Survival’s director Stephen Corry said today, ‘Any talks between
diamond companies and the Bushmen under current conditions make a
mockery of the concept of free, prior and informed consent, which is
the cornerstone of both the UN declaration on indigenous peoples and
the international law.’
The president of Botswana, General Ian Khama, whose government
continues to oppress the Bushmen and allow mineral prospecting on their
land, is a board member of the environmental NGO, Conservation International – adding further insult to the Bushmen’s predicament.
OneWorld.net's take: Tiffany Tompkin's pioneering company recycles and buys used, offsets its carbon footprint, donates to U.S. scholarship funds, and supports social development initiatives in Argentina, Chile, and South Africa, where its Fair Trade wines are produced.
Etica Fair Trade Wines imports wine from Argentina, Chile, and South Africa.
In order to be certified Fair Trade, a product must meet the standards of the Fair Trade Labeling Organization, which "set clear minimum and developmental criteria and objectives for social, economic and environmental sustainability." This set of principles includes the investment of revenues in projects that benefit the community, a dedication to environmental sustainability and to small scale production, and a commitment to fair labor standards. The FLO also sets a minimum price for each Fair Trade product which covers the cost of production and a living wage that is enough for food, shelter, clothing, education, and medical care for workers.
Several advocacy and humanitarian organizations are asking Americans to participate in "reverse trick-or-treating" this Halloween, One World US reports. The campaign seeks to build awareness about inequities in the global cocoa industry and alert consumers to Fair Trade chocolate alternatives. Co-Op America, Global Exchange, and other nonprofit groups are sending free Fair Trade kits to consumers across the United States to build support and raise the profile of Fair Trade chocolate products.
When you purchase a bottle of wine at the supermarket, do you know where your dollars go? If you make that purchase a bottle of Etica Fair Trade wine you do. On her Web site, Tiffany Tompkins, owner of Etica Fair Trade breaks it down for you.
From shipping and insurance to tariffs and taxes, you see exactly what goes into the cost of your bottle, including how much goes directly to the wine cellar, farmers, workers, and vineyard. In the countries where Etica does business, a portion of this cost is always used for social development, from helping with health insurance in Chile to supporting a childcare facility in South Africa - where Tiffany is pictured above. We asked her to tell us more about the story behind her Fair Trade wine business.
Co-op America: What does your business do, and what are your most popular products?
Tiffany Tompkins: Etica is a Fair Trade wine importer and distributor based in Minnesota. We import Fair Trade wine from Argentina, Chile and South Africa. Our most popular products are Pinotage from South Africa and Carmenere from Chile.
What makes your business green?
Tiffany: Besides our commitment to selling only Fair Trade wines, we offset our carbon footprints from importing, we buy used to save resources, and we recycle as much as possible. We also donate funds to a scholarship fund. Our country's youth deserve good educations!
What did you do before you started your green business?
Tiffany: Before starting Etica I worked for the Chinese Government's WTO office and taught trade policies to government officials and businessmen and women in Beijing. Although not the worst job I have ever had, I did get disillusioned by some of the subjects I was teaching.
It led me to find alternative trade and business practices that got me to where I am now. I am really thankful for the experience.
What have been some of the biggest challenges of maintaining high standards of social and environmental responsibility?
Tiffany: As a small importing company, we are faced with the problems of keeping transportation streamlined and costs down. We try to develop the most direct shipping routes to reduce added transportation and therefore an additional waste of fuel. In Minnesota, we share cooperative warehousing and delivery services with another wine distribution company to help with this matter. We work with distributors in other states to buy in larger volumes and in return are more flexible on payment terms. We try to find trucks that are running other products to the same area and have direct shipping routes.
What's been your proudest moment as a green business owner?
Tiffany: Committing to Fair Trade practices as a company here in the US makes me very proud. Our company supports local farmers, other Fair Trade companies, and community schools and organizations. Whether through wine donations or cross-promotional events, we are all collectively working to educate and impact our communities through healthier lifestyle choices. That drive makes all of our hard work worth it.
What is the most hopeful sign you've seen recently in the green economy?
Tiffany: My conservative relatives are talking about the environment and the planet as if they have just discovered the Earth. I know it is a small step for some, but monumental for others. Vocabulary extensions like "energy efficient", "conservation", "gas guzzler" and "Al Gore" were 100% missing from any dialogue. Now, these words and their counterparts freely roll off the tongue. Truly amazing!
What advice would you give to green entrepreneurs just starting out?
Tiffany: My best advice to green entrepreneurs starting out would be to stick with your gut instincts. When you have an exciting idea it is easy for everyone to give you his or her opinion. People get excited about what you are doing and want to be a part of it. You have to remember that, although it is good to listen to others, it is you who will make your idea fly. Stick to your guns and be strong.
What's the next green step you're working on right now?
Tiffany: Right now I am working on domestic Fair Trade issues and how they can be related to the wine industry. We have wonderful organic and sustainable wines in the US and I think it is about time that we address labor in the same context. True sustainability starts with people in my opinion.
What green product could you not live without?
Tiffany: I am a huge fan of Divine chocolate and Fair Trade coffee and tea, like Peace Coffee and Equal Exchange. I am also really into natural cleaning products, and because I am in Colorado a lot these days, I am drinking New Belgium beer!
Bushman children, Botswana 2004.
