At their general conference in Pittsburgh, the United Methodists stated that they will join a boycott against Taco Bell over the working conditions of migrant tomato pickers in Florida. The Committee on Church Society recommended the boycott, which will be taken up by the General Conference. The petition states that tomato pickers for Taco Bell’s major supplier in Immokalee, Florida makes an average of $.40 for a 32 pound bucket and have not had a pay raise in 20 years. The petition also states that some workers are held against their will in slavery-like conditions. Taco Bell’s website states that its parent company, Yum! Brands, has a supplier code of conduct which requires suppliers to ensure that their employees have safe and healthy working conditions, reasonable daily and weekly work schedules and that suppliers should not perform work or produce goods using labor under any form of indentured servitude, threats or abuse.
Posted by franchiselawblog at May 5, 2004 04:05 PM