Florida United Methodist Church calls on Publix for dialogue, action on Fair Food without further delay!

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In June 2015, the Florida United Methodist Conference voted overwhelmingly for a resolution calling on Publix Supermarkets to join the Fair Food Program

“…I am writing to inform you of the Florida United Methodist Conference’s resolute call to Publix to join the Fair Food Program and to take part in the expansion of long-denied human rights of farmworkers…” 

Back in June of 2015, the six-year campaign to bring Publix into the Fair Food Program was marked with a major victory in the halls of the Florida United Methodist Church’s Annual Conference in Daytona Beach, Florida.  Those gathered, representing over 700 congregations, voted overwhelmingly for a measure calling on Publix to join the Fair Food Program.  

We shared a blow-by-blow report of the historic vote (which you can read in full here), including the following conclusion:

The dramatic victory was sealed by the powerful words and spirit of Florida United Methodists who have truly taken the time and effort to inform themselves about the state’s long history of farmworker poverty and abuse, to get to know the members of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and their two-decade old campaign for dignity and economic justice, and to learn about the groundbreaking Fair Food Program and its unprecedented advances for human rights in Florida’s fields.  

Knowledge is power, and at the Florida United Methodists’ Annual Conference this year, knowledge — and a deep, abiding love for one’s fellow human beings — won out over fear, division, and sheer financial power.

Of course, the June vote was only the beginning.  Having concluded their annual gathering, the Florida UMC pivoted to putting their many resolutions into action for the coming year — starting with a letter to Publix:

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In the month since the August letter, Publix has remained conspicuously silent, having neither responded to the Florida UMC leadership nor accepted the invitation to dialogue with the CIW.  Just last week, the Florida conference published this update:

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Publix had not responded to an invitation for comment on the letter or participating in dialogue by post time. According to the company website’s position statement, “Since first approached by the CIW in 2009, we have consistently viewed this issue as a labor dispute…

“Publix is more than willing to pay a penny more per pound — or whatever the market price for tomatoes will be — in order to provide product to our customers. However, we will not pay employees of other companies directly for their labor,” the online statement reads.

Retailers who participate in the Fair Food Program agree to pay a penny more per pound for Florida tomatoes to increase workers’ wages and decline to do business with growers who exploit their workers.

Publix’s entire statement on the CIW campaign can be found here.

The resolution passed by a vote of 515 to 165, and supporting the Fair Food Program has long been advocated by the conference’s Social Justice Committee.  The resolution called for the Florida Conference’s support of CIW’s Fair Food Program and for Publix to join 13 other major food retailers that participate in the program.

 “I believe that Publix can and will do the right thing,” said Rev. Clarke Campbell-Evans, director of the conference Missional Engagement department. “That is in their DNA as a company.

“I don’t understand why they will not sit down with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers,” he added.  “I don’t understand why they will not sign the Fair Food Agreement, which so many other companies, like Walmart, Chipotle, McDonald’s and Taco Bell, have done.”

Of course, the Florida Conference’s commitment to amplifying this call does not end with this latest letter.  A leadership group from around the state has been meeting over the summer since the passage of the resolution to plan for a fall of continued action.

Rest assured, Publix’s silence will not dissuade those driven by such a powerful faith — faith not only in the basic dignity of all human beings, but also faith in the ultimate triumph of right over wrong, of justice over exploitation, of good over indifference.