A PENNY FOR YOUR POUND OF TOMATOES

Florida’s tomato fields in the south and southwest supply most of the tomatoes to our nation's fast food industry. Migrant farm workers were paid 45 cents for every 32 pound bucket of tomatoes they hand pick. Every worker picks about 2 tons of tomatoes a day.

Then in 2005 McDonalds and Taco Bell agreed to a one penny per pound increase (77 cents per 32 pounds) payable directly to the migrant farm workers. However, Burger King, whose headquarters is in Miami, has adamantly refused to agree to the penny per pound increase. Burger King’s entire exposure in the pay raise has been estimated to be $250,000.00 per year.

The Herald is reporting that today (Friday) the City Of Miami will close the streets along a nine mile march route of a protest staged by the Coalition of Immokaleee Workers (click to see their web site). The march will begin at the headquarters of Goldman Sachs (the largest shareholder of BK) at 200 S. Biscayne Boulevard. The march will end at the BK headquarters at Blue Lagoon Drive off of 836.

The top dozen or so executives of Goldman Sachs will probably be paid more than 200 million in year end bonuses this year. The ten thousand or so migrant farm workers of Florida will probably earn less than half that, or about $10,000.00 per worker per year.

Talk about “having it your way” at Burger King.

Charge an extra nickel for those French fries that are slowly killing us anyway, and give those farm workers a decent wage. We’d like to see some of those fat cats at Goldman Sachs hop off their spin bikes and stair masters and try some real exercise by bending over for 10 hours a day lugging a 30 pound bucket through Florida’s hot sun.

Rumpole vows that until Burger King antes up the penny a pound for the migrant farm workers, nary a Whopper will pass the lips of this blogger.

BOYCOTT BURGER KING!!! We say, until the King decides to pay.

See You In Court, where Au Bon Pain’s turkey wrap is just as good, and much better for you.