Goal:
To convince Wendy’s to sign the Fair Food Program, thus joining McDonald’s, Subway, Burger King, and Taco Bell. Together, they would create immense purchasing power to ensure that modern slavery does not exist in the supply chains of the tomato industry.
Summary:
Forced labor and exploitation of workers on Florida’s tomato farms has long been a concern. At one time, a federal prosecutor called Florida’s tomato industry “ground-zero for modern slavery.”
In April 2015, the Coalition for Immokalee Workers succeeded in establishing Fair Food Agreements with eleven multi-billion-dollar food retailers. However, one company, Wendy’s, stood in the way of assuring the elimination of slavery in the tomato industry’s supply chain. Our advocates were asked to take action by making calls to Wendy’s CEO
Outcome:
Despite thousands of calls from concerned anti-slavery activists to the office of Wendy’s CEO, Emil Brolick, a protracted social media campaign in which Wendy’s DELETED messages that asked them to join the Fair Food Program, numerous peaceful protests, and over a hundred thousand signatures, CEO Brolick still refuses to sign. We continue to be vigilant in monitoring abuses and looking for opportunities to bring about positive change.
