Comments on: Companies with a conscience http://peacefulearth.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/companies-with-a-conscience/ Nature, Organics, Justice for all of earth's creatures Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:25:44 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: peacefulearth http://peacefulearth.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/companies-with-a-conscience/#comment-7 peacefulearth Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:40:25 +0000 http://peacefulearth.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-7 Thanks for the comment. On a corporate level, I still think Chipotle has more integrity than the average American restaurant, but your point is taken and noted. At least they decided not to support companies who mistreat their workers by taking their business elsewhere. That said, they should have taken a stand on this issue. Thanks for the comment. On a corporate level, I still think Chipotle has more integrity than the average American restaurant, but your point is taken and noted. At least they decided not to support companies who mistreat their workers by taking their business elsewhere. That said, they should have taken a stand on this issue.

]]> By: Robert http://peacefulearth.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/companies-with-a-conscience/#comment-6 Robert Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:59:33 +0000 http://peacefulearth.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-6 Yes, Chipotle markets itself as a socially responsible company, but unfortunately it is only that--a marketing scheme--not an authentic commitment to "revolutionizing the way food is grown and gathered" like it says in its "Food with Integrity manifesto." The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW)--a community-based organization of immigrant farmworkers in SW Florida--has called on the fast-food industry to work with them to ensure fair wages and human rights for the workers who pick tomatoes that end up in these companies' burritos, burgers and salads. Tomato pickers in Florida receive sub-poverty wages that have been stagnant for the last 30 years, are denied the right to organize or to overtime pay, and lack benefits of any kind. In the most extreme situations, they are forced to work against their will in situation of modern-day slavery. The CIW approached Chipotle about improving these conditions (see their original letter to Chipotle here: www.ciw-online.org/Chipotle_letter.html). However, Chipotle ignored the them. When the CIW raised the issue publicly, instead of engagin in dialogue, Chipotle claimed to have ceased purchasing tomatoes from Florida. Instead of taking an opportunity to influence its suppliers for the better, Chipotle went out of its way to avoid improving conditions for workers. If Chipotle is unwilling to ensure "work with dignity" for those who pick the tomatoes for its tacos and burritos, I don't know how it can claim to have "food with integrity." Yes, Chipotle markets itself as a socially responsible company, but unfortunately it is only that–a marketing scheme–not an authentic commitment to “revolutionizing the way food is grown and gathered” like it says in its “Food with Integrity manifesto.”

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW)–a community-based organization of immigrant farmworkers in SW Florida–has called on the fast-food industry to work with them to ensure fair wages and human rights for the workers who pick tomatoes that end up in these companies’ burritos, burgers and salads.

Tomato pickers in Florida receive sub-poverty wages that have been stagnant for the last 30 years, are denied the right to organize or to overtime pay, and lack benefits of any kind. In the most extreme situations, they are forced to work against their will in situation of modern-day slavery.

The CIW approached Chipotle about improving these conditions (see their original letter to Chipotle here: http://www.ciw-online.org/Chipotle_letter.html). However, Chipotle ignored the them.

When the CIW raised the issue publicly, instead of engagin in dialogue, Chipotle claimed to have ceased purchasing tomatoes from Florida. Instead of taking an opportunity to influence its suppliers for the better, Chipotle went out of its way to avoid improving conditions for workers.

If Chipotle is unwilling to ensure “work with dignity” for those who pick the tomatoes for its tacos and burritos, I don’t know how it can claim to have “food with integrity.”

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