Wendy's: Respect Farmworkers' Dignity!
Todd A. Penegor, CEO, Wendy's
The Coalition of Immokalee workers has done inspiring and unprecedented work in establishing the Fair Food Program, which ensures the safety and dignity of farmworkers in an industry too often known for exploitation, sexual violence, and wage theft. Ohio’s own Wendy’s stands alone as the largest fast food chain that still refuses to join the Fair Food Program. This is why farmworkers have been leading a years-long boycott of Wendy’s until they do the right thing.
This month, faith leaders are sending a letter to the President and CEO of Wendy’s calling on him to address this matter directly. Please sign and share today to add your voice to the chorus of faith leaders and concerned folks joining the efforts of farmworkers. Thank you!
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To:
Todd A. Penegor, CEO, Wendy's
From:
[Your Name]
Dear Mr. Penegor,
As faith leaders from across the state of Ohio, we call on Wendy’s to join its peers in the fast-food industry by enrolling in the Fair Food Program initiated by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.
Our faith traditions direct us to pay special attention to the needs of the poor, the excluded and the marginalized. Few workers in the United States are so poor, excluded and marginalized as the workers who plant and harvest our food – including the tomatoes used to garnish Wendy’s hHamburgers.
McDonald’s, Subway, and Burger King have enrolled in the Fair Food Program. The Fair Food Program is a worker-driven effort to ensure fair treatment and dignity for workers in the tomato fields; under the program, these companies have committed to purchasing tomatoes from growers who are committed to fair labor practices and whose performance is monitored by the workers.
By refusing to participate in the Fair Food Program, Wendy's has opted to profit from farm worker abuse and poverty and continues to provide a market for less reputable growers.
Until Wendy’s does the right thing and enrolls in the Fair Food Program, we will honor the boycott called by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and encourage others to honor it as well.
We ask that you respond by November 30th to Rev. Dan Clark, Ohio Director of Faith in Public Life, at dclark@faithinpubliclife.org or 614-***-**** to schedule a meeting with faith leaders and farmworkers to discuss how Wendy’s plans to address this matter.
For love and justice,