Letter from Robert C. Keithan to McDonald’s CEO


Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
Washington Office for Advocacy
1320 18th Street, Suite 300B Washington, DC 20036

January 4, 2006

Mr. Jim Skinner, CEO
McDonald’s Corporation
McDonald’s Plaza
Oak Brooks, IL 60523

Dear Mr. Skinner:

The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations has a long-standing commitment to supporting the health and well-being of farm workers. While progress has been made since our first policy statement in 1961, we know that many farm workers in the United State still face harsh and often unsafe working conditions for unlivable wages and no benefits. These conditions are not in line with the ethical values we believe should be upheld by major American corporations. On behalf the Unitarian Universalist Association, I urge McDonald’s to work with the (CIW) to improve wages and working conditions in the fields where McDonald’s tomatoes are produced.

In March, 2005, Yum Brands and the reached a precedent-setting agreement to improve wages and working conditions in Yum’s tomato supply chain. McDonald’s has been presented with the opportunity to work together with the CIW, an internationally recognized farm worker organization with a proven human rights record, to ensure justice for the farm workers in its own tomato supply chain. The model established by CIW and Yum Brands is a proven model for partnership between farm workers, growers and the fast-food industry.

McDonald’s must similarly take corrective action to counteract the low piece rates held in place by its own high-volume/low price purchasing.

McDonald’s should not evade the important issues with inadequate initiatives, such as the Social Accountable Farm Workers (SAFE) initiate. To create a just and lasting solution in the fields, McDonald’s must work with the CIW, whose members endure these unjust and inhumane working conditions and are working to end them.

We applaud McDonald’s recent decision to serve only fair-trade coffee in over 600 of its New England and New York stores. We encourage you to extend the principles of fairness and justice to other regions and other food products as well. Again, on behalf the Unitarian Universalist Association, I urge McDonald’s to work with the (CIW) to improve wages and working conditions in the fields where McDonald’s tomatoes are produced.

In Faith,

Robert C. Keithan, Director

CC: Mr. Bob Langert, Senior Director of Social Responsibility