Time ripe to aid farmworkers

Watch Video report on "Students gather for farmworkers"

Students from all over the country have joined together to fight for tomato workers' rights. FGCU students are among those giving their time.

The Progressive Student Alliance is working with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to obtain a safer work environment, fair wages and dignity for local tomato pickers. "Farmworkers in Florida have been denied labor rights," Angela Cisneros, president of PSA, said. "Were working to change that."

Farmworkers do not have the right to overtime pay, or the right to organize, according to the CIW Web site.

Farmworkers in Southwest Florida do not make an hourly wage. They work 10 to 14 hours a day and earn 40 to 45 cents for each 32-pound bucket they gather. That wage has not significantly changed in 31 years, according to Megan Cohorst, national coordinator of the Student/Farmworker Alliance.

In order to earn minimum wage, which is $7.25, farmworkers would have to pick 150 buckets a day, according to the CIW Web site.

For Oscar Otzoy, a 22 year old farmworker from Guatemala, hardships are a familiar reality.

His working conditions affect his everyday life.

Otzoy makes his living picking tomatoes. If his wages were better, his lifestyle would dramatically improve.

"A lot of workers live in trailers because rent is so high. Workers are forced to live with twelve to fourteen others and can be charged $500 a week," Otzoy said. "If we were making a little bit more money we could find a better place to live and maybe save up for a car."

The CIW's campaign "Dine with Dignity" works with students to help farmworkers, like Otzoy, fight for fair wages and a better working environment.

"What we're hoping for is that companies continue to only purchase from companies that agree with the code of conduct of CIW," Otzoy said.

"Dine with Dignity" has challenged university food providers to comply with the CIW's demands for equality for farmworkers. CIW calls it "economic justice."

FGCU's food service provider is Aramark, a global company that serves more than 1,800 colleges and school districts worldwide.

CIW has already reached international agreements with Taco Bell, McDonald's, Burger King, Bon Appétit and Whole Foods.

Once a company signs an agreement with CIW, it is obligated to pay its farmworkers at least a penny a pound.

FGCU students working with CIW are demanding Aramark comply with the same standards.

"They (Aramark) have just ignored us. They have ignored petitions, students and delegations. They have never given us a significance response," Cohorst said. "They have refused to come to the table."

Marc Rodriguez, national coordinator of the Student/Farmworker Alliance, wrote a letter to Aramark expressing his concern about their treatment of farmworkers. Robert Dennill, associate vice president of Aramark, responded in a letter to Rodriguez.

"While we understand and respect the CIW's mission, Aramark does not contract with the growers or the farmworkers in the purchasing of tomatoes … we await word from our suppliers as they investigate these concerns with their supply chain," Dennill wrote.

Marc followed up with Dennill several times, asking if there suppliers had responded to his concerns. He received no further responses.

Raymond Huston, food service director, has been working with FGCU since May 2009.

"We have not purchased from Immokalee since I came on board and we have no intention to do so."

In September the CIW landed a cornerstone victory when Compass Group, a major competitor of Aramark, agreed to its conditions.

"It's huge with Compass in the picture. There is no excuse now. It is now possible," Cohorst said. "Compass has committed to dignity."

CIW and local farmworkers are hoping that Aramark and Sodexo, a giant food provider for the United States, Canada and Mexico, will follow Compass Group's lead.

The campaign is specific to tomato workers because it is the largest industry around Immokalee, which is the largest agricultural zone in the area.

"Farmworkers are feeding the country. Hard work needs to be respected," Cohorst said. The CIW works with more than 30 campuses across the United States and has the support of thousands of students at different universities.

"Once we're able to make these changes, it will set the precedent for other workers to organize," Cohorst said.

Miguel Lopez and Maryann Batlle contributed to this report.