wfn.org | PCUSA - Parsons commends CIW and Subway on agreement

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www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2008/08905<http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2008/08905

> Parsons commends CIW and Subway on agreement

Accord sends 'unmistakable message' to ensure human
rights, he says

> by Jerry L. Van Marter
> Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE - The Rev. Gradye Parsons, Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) General Assembly stated clerk, has issued a
statement praising the Dec. 2 agreement between the
Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) [www.ciw-online.org]
and Subway, the third-largest fast food chain in the United
States.

The agreement commits Subway to take steps to increase
wages and improve working conditions for the Florida
farmworkers that harvest tomatoes for Subway's suppliers.
Subway joins Yum! Brands - parent of Taco Bell - as well as
McDonalds, Burger King and Whole Foods grocery chain in
partnering with the CIW to improve the lot of Florida's
farmworkers and put an end to human slavery in the fields.

"Subway's decision sends an unmistakable message to the
rest of the retail food industry and to Florida growers,"
Parsons said. "The industry can and must ensure human
rights for farmworkers."

The PC(USA) has backed the CIW from the beginning and has
expanded its support as part of its Campaign for Fair Food
[www.pcusa.org/fairfood], an effort spearheaded by the
Presbyterian Hunger Program.

The full text of Parsons' statement, dated Dec. 3:

On behalf of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) I want to commend the Coalition of
Immokalee Workers and SUBWAY restaurant chain on their
agreement to improve wages and working conditions for
farmworkers in the Florida tomato fields.

As the largest purchaser of Florida tomatoes in the
fast-food industry, 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 farmworkers.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers has labored assiduously
in partnership with consumers and institutions of faith and
conscience across the country for fair food that ensures
human rights.

The CIW's innovative and substantial agreements with Yum!
Brands, McDonald's, Burger King, Whole Foods Market and now
Subway are transforming the very structure of the industry,
by leveraging the enormous purchasing power of these
companies to advance human rights for farmworkers.

The significance of these agreements is that they not only
promise a significant wage increase for farmworkers but
that they also guarantee the full-participation of
farmworkers in creating and upholding a more just food
system.

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.

As Presbyterians join Christians around the world in
celebrating the season of Advent, a time when we keep watch
for Christ to usher in a "new heaven and a new earth," this
agreement reminds us of our call to be a part of creating a
just society.

So as we commend and celebrate this moment, the
Presbyterian Church renews its commitment to working with
the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and colleagues in the
Alliance for Fair Food [www.allianceforfairfood.org] to
ensure that the gains achieved with this agreement are
finally realized throughout the retail food and
agricultural industries.