by James Parks, Apr 9, 2007

In less than two weeks, farm workers from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and their allies will travel from Immokalee, Fla.—home of one of the largest farm worker communities in the country—to Chicago, home of the world’s largest restaurant chain, McDonald’s, to bring the truth about what’s really behind those golden arches.

The 2007 McDonald’s Truth Tour–Behind the Golden Arches will culminate in two national days of action April 13–14 in Chicago. The actions follow a March 28–April 4 week of action sponsored by the Student Labor Action Project (SLAP), which also included protests at dozens of McDonald’s locations.

Nearly two years ago, members of the CIW stood with representatives of Taco Bell to announce a historic initiative to increase pay and enforce a code of conduct to help address the ever-deepening poverty and decades of degradation faced by tomato pickers in Florida. The pickers make, on average, less than $10,000 a year and have not had a raise in almost 30 years. At the going rate, workers have to pick nearly 20 tons of tomatoes a year just to earn the minimum wage in a typical 10-hour day.

Farm workers in Florida typically receive no overtime pay and have been denied the right to form unions or bargain collectively. Federal civil rights officials have prosecuted five slavery operations involving more than 1,000 workers in Florida’s fields since 1997.

Taco Bell challenged its fast-food industry counterparts to follow its lead and demand fair wages and humane treatment for the workers who pick their tomatoes. But nearly two years later, McDonald’s, the undisputed leader of the $100 billion fast-food industry, has refused to work with the CIW to meaningfully address the exploitation of farm workers in its supply chain. McDonald’s recently distributed bonuses to its top three executives totaling more than $15 million, yet refuses to pay just a penny more per pound for its tomatoes to alleviate 30 years of stagnant wages for farm workers.

So on April 13, thousands of workers will rally outside McDonald’s headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill. 

Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the unaffiliated Farm Workers, will be joined by AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stewart Acuff; Rev. Michael Livingston, president of the National Council of Churches; Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.); students and community leaders in letting Mickey D executives know they cannot continue to exploit workers while raking in huge profits.

The following day, in downtown Chicago, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney will join other union and religious leaders to help the farm workers celebrate in a “carnival” and parade that celebrate culture, music and hope.

To download official 2007 Truth Tour information and materials, click here.  For more information on the CIW and the issues surrounding McDonald’s, go here, here and here.

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