December 4, 2008
by Jerry L. Van Marter

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, http://www.allianceforfairfood.org/, to ensure that the gains achieved with this agreement are finally realized throughout the retail food and agricultural industries.

Presbyterian News Service