Taco Bell is considering approaching the U.S. Department of
Labor to review the wages and living conditions of farmworkers who
produce the fast food chain’s tomatoes.
The restaurant is struggling to maintain its presence on the
UCLA campus as it works to comply with conditions set out by board
members of the Associated Students of UCLA in December 2003.
Board members of the association voted after hearing
presentations on labor abuses committed by growers against tomato
pickers in Immokalee, a region in Florida from where the restaurant
purchases its tomatoes.
These farmworkers, most of whom came from Mexico, reportedly
suffered criminal abuses at the hands of their supervisors and were
forced to work overtime without pay.
The conditions specified that Taco Bell must pay for a third
party to investigate labor practices of its tomato suppliers in the
Immokalee region. A written report must be submitted to the
association by April 30.
However, Taco Bell has concerns with some of ASUCLA’s
provisions, said Laurie Schalow, director of public relations for
the restaurant chain.
Taco Bell cannot force its suppliers to comply with the UCLA
code of conduct, she said, but suppliers will still have to abide
by the restaurant’s own code of conduct. Taco Bell currently
is updating its code of conduct to include anti-slave labor
language, Schalow added.
In addition, Taco Bell cannot force inspections on its tomato
suppliers, she said.
Bob Williams, ASUCLA interim executive director, said board
members felt the restaurant was moving “somewhat in the
direction that we want.”
Williams added, however, that the association still needs Taco
Bell to involve the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in the process
of selecting the third party to conduct the review.
According to ASUCLA provisions, Taco Bell will need to gain
approval of the third party reviewer from both the CIW and the
United Food Processing Cooperative.
Brian Payne, a member of the Student/Farmworker Alliance who
works with CIW in Florida, said the coalition is looking at
possible third-party candidates while waiting to receive a copy of
ASUCLA’s actual proposal and for Taco Bell to contact
them.
“Based on that proposal, we hope that the coalition and
Taco Bell can get a third-party investigation team to do research.
… We’re hoping that ASUCLA will realize that there is a
clear violation of the UCLA Code of Conduct and that (Taco
Bell’s) contract would not be renewed in June,” Payne
said.
Student activist groups on campus such as the Social Justice
Alliance and the Student-Worker Front have reiterated their stance
against the presence of Taco Bell on campus.
Taco Bell needs to take responsibility for the actions of their
tomato suppliers, said SJA member Sarah Church.
Figures from the Department of Labor show that the rate at which
farmworkers are paid, 40 to 50 cents for each 32-pound bucket of
tomatoes, has remained the same since 1978.
“They’re encouraging the exploitation of workers
through their buying practices,” Church said.
Church said she hopes a third-party investigation will
“bring to light the conditions of workers in a way that (Taco
Bell) has to accept.”