Skip to main content

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” — Luke 23:42

Wendy’s Campaign

New - May 2016:

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the church are asking Wendy’s, which is based in Dublin, OH and has restaurants across the nation, to do what eleven other retail food corporations have already done:  join the Fair Food Program.  Through the Fair Food Program, retail food corporations agree to two things. 

Wendy's Pigtail MarchThe pigtail march outside a Wendy’s in NYC, April 2013. Photo: CIW

1) To pay at least 1 penny more per pound of tomatoes to the growers who supply them.  Those growers then pass that increase onto workers.  The increase is audited by the Fair Food Standards Council, a third party monitor, to ensure the increase gets to farmworkers.

2) purchase their Florida tomatoes only from growers participating in the Fair Food Program and upholding the fair food code of conduct and suspending purchases from those growers found to be in violation of the Code until they correct such violations.

How has Wendy’s responded?

For years, the CIW and the Alliance for Fair Food have called on Wendy’s to work with the CIW and join the Fair Food Program.  The PC(USA) is a founding member of the AFF.  Of the five largest fast-food companies, Wendy’s is the only one not participating in the Fair Food Program.

Further, beginning at its Annual Meeting in May 2013, Wendy’s executives and spokepersons have deliberately mischaracterized the Fair Food Program and also claimed they are pay a penny per pound more…of course they may be paying a penny more but it’s not going to farmworkers’ wages and its not monitored by the Fair Food Standards Council.

 Read about Wendy’s statements and CIW’s responses.  Scroll down on the linked page.

What can I do?

  • Pray for the farmworkers, major tomato buyers in restaurant, grocery, and foodservice, the growers, and the work of the Campaign for Fair Food.
  • Join in peaceful public witness urging Wendy’s to join the Fair Food Program. Details about witness opportunities  http://ciw-online.org
  • Send postcards and emails to the CEO of Wendy’s. Drop off a manager’s letter to the local Wendy’s store when you shop, calling on them to work with the CIW. Order postcards, send emails, download manger’s letters and view other resources.
  • Learn more.  Contact  the Presbyterian Hunger Program to share your ideas.
  • Give generously to the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering that supports the PC(USA)’s work on the Campaign for Fair Food, which is a ministry of the Presbyterian Hunger Program.

How has the PC(USA) been involved?

The PC(USA) has been a partner in the Campaign for Fair Food since 2002 and played a significant role at the local, regional and national settings in convincing major food corporations to recognize their power to change conditions and urging them to partner with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers through the Fair Food Program.  The church has done this work in concert with ecumenical and interfaith partners.

PC(USA) Key Public Statements

April 2013, The Rev. Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, sent a letter to Mr. Emil Brolick , CEO of Wendy’s, recalling that Mr. Brolick was President of Taco Bell when Yum! Brands signed the first fair food agreement with the CIW and urging him to “sit down with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers without delay and discuss how Wendy’s can become a part of the Fair Food Program.  Your leadership is needed now more than ever.”  Read the full letter. 

2007-2009, The PC(USA) has been a signatory on multiple letters to Wendy’s CEO in partnership with others from the Alliance for Fair Food in 2007, 2008 and 2009.  [The PC(USA) co-founded the AFF in 2006]. 

PC(USA) Key Public Witness Events with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Topics:
Tags: