GREAT NEWS KEEPS COMING IN THREE’S!

On the heels of Zack de la Rocha’s confirmation for the Chicago actions, three more high-profile allies have said they’ll be there when workers from Immokalee rally outside McDonald’s this April. Plus, two more great articles came out this past week. Here’ a wrap-up of the latest news…

Dolores Huerta (above) , co-founder of the UFW and a widely-respected leader in the broader civil rights movement in the US, will be lending her presence to the actions in Chicago! Also confirming this week were Kerry Kennedy, daughter of Robert F. Kennedy and founder of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, and Rev. Michael Livingston, President of the National Council of Churches.

In an article, entitled "Florida farm workers take aim at McDonald’s" (2/14/07), carried in dozens of papers across the country and overseas, a Reuters correspondent wrote:

"A penny a pound increase for tomatoes may seem like chump change for burger behemoth McDonald’s. The hike could make a big difference for the tomato pickers of Florida, however. The state, which has a long history of miserable conditions for farmworkers, is the source of more than 90 percent of the fresh winter tomatoes produced in the United States." read more….

An opinion piece from Sunday, 2/18/07, in the Palm Beach Post praised Taco Bell for taking the lead in improving farmworker wages and challenged the other major brands to follow suit:

"It took courage for Yum Brands Inc., Taco Bell’s parent, to become the first fast-food chain to do something meaningful to help thousands of Florida farmworkers earn a living wage… (The CIW) is ready to organize boycotts, and consumers who care about fair play can use their hunger to reward or punish as they see fit. When the choice comes down to Taco Bell, McDonald’s or Burger King, go for the tacos and strike a blow for farmworkers’ rights." read more….