Taco Bell has aged to work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to address wages and working conditions of farm workers.
Reportedly, Taco Bell is to "fund a penny-per-pound 'pass-through' with its suppliers of Florida tomatoes, and will undertake joint efforts with the CIW on several fronts to improve working conditions in Florida's tomato fields."
CIW has agreed to "end its three year boycott of Taco Bell saying that the agreement ‘sets a new standard of social responsibility for the fast-food industry."
"As an industry leader, we are pleased to lend our support to and work with the CIW to improve working and pay conditions for farm workers in the Florida tomato fields," said Emil Brolick, Taco Bell president.
"We recognise that Florida tomato workers do not enjoy the same rights and conditions as employees in other industries, and there is a need for reform," Brolick said. "We have indicated that any solution must be industry-wide, as our company simply does not have the clout alone to solve the issues raised by the CIW, but we are willing to play a leadership role within our industry to be part of the solution."
Taco Bell "indicated that it believes other restaurant chains and supermarkets, along with the Florida Tomato Committee, should join in seeking legislative reform, because ‘human rights are universal and we hope others will follow our company's lead.’"