FGCU professor takes Publix to task for hollow public relations responses to Fair Food Program
In a recent article looking at Publix’s growing competition with Walmart on prices, Publix spokesperson Shannon Patten was quoted as saying:
“We position ourselves as customer advocates by challenging cost increases from suppliers and making sure such increases are justified,” Patten said. “We have been successful in delaying cost increases, reducing the amounts of some increases and working with our suppliers to create more weekly specials.” read more >>
Well, one Publix customer decided to do a little advocating — and challenging — of her own in response, in the form of a letter to Publix’s Media and Community Relations Manager Brian West, and she has shared her letter with us so that we might share it with the rest of the Fair Food Nation.
Professor Anne Hartley (right), a faculty member at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU… yes, that FGCU) in environmental sustainability and civic engagement, wrote an excellent letter deconstructing the company’s public relations position in response to the Fair Food Program and including some questions of her own for Florida’s largest corporation.
And in honor of FGCU’s historic run in this year’s NCAA basketball tournament, we are going to present her letter Dunk City style — in a two-part series, or as they would call it at FGCU, an “alley oop“!
Today’s installment — the “alley” — is Professor Hartley’s point-by-point critical analysis of Publix’s PR pablum, including her questions for Mr. West. Tomorrow’s installment — the “oop” — is the second half of her letter in which she breaks Publix’s position down to its essence and challenges the grocery giant with one final, penetrating question. So, without further ado, here is part one, or the alley, of Professor Hartley’s letter to Publix:
Mr. Brian West
Media & Community Relations Manager
P.O. Box 32024
Lakeland, FL 33802Dear Mr. West,
I am a faculty member at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, where I teach and do research on environmental sustainability and civic engagement. These are two core values of the University, as expressed in our mission. To be better informed about Publix’ position on the issue of farmworker support, I am writing to request clarification on four parts of the Coalition of Immokalee Worker (CIW) media statement published on the Media Relations page of Publix’ web site. Excerpts from the media statement appear in italics below, and my questions are in bold.
1) This is a labor dispute.
Since first approached by the CIW three years ago, we have consistently viewed this issue as a labor dispute…A labor dispute is a controversy between an employer and its employees concerning the terms and conditions of employment. This includes, but isn’t limited to, wages (including bonuses), benefits, breaks and other working conditions.
When the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange joined the Fair Food Program (FFP), over 90% of Florida tomato growers signed onto the FFP. They work with the CIW and are monitored by the Fair Food Standards Council (FFSC) to ensure the pennies provided by buyers like Publix get to the growers, who then pay their workers. The extra pay appears as a line item on their pay stubs. The growers also agree to be audited by the FFSC for compliance with the Fair Food Code of Conduct and to participate in a complaint resolution process to help ensure that workers on their farms enjoy the more humane labor standards established under the Fair Food Program. Given the high level of cooperation by Florida tomato growers, how can Publix continue to view this as a labor dispute?
2) One agreement could open the door to 40,000.
Most of our stores offer an array of more than 40,000 products. Each product comes from a supplier, and with so many suppliers, we could literally be drawn into a potential dispute between an employer and their employee(s) at any time. This is not our place.
In almost eight years since Taco Bell signed the first Fair Food agreement, none of the buyers who joined the Fair Food Program have been approached by other worker coalitions for higher pay or better working conditions. This statement appears logical, but is unsubstantiated. What evidence does Publix have that it will be drawn into the labor disputes of other suppliers?…
And check back tomorrow for Part 2!