Protest at Chipotle Shareholders Meeting for Farmworker Justice

I don't know what's with the "Access Denied" screen when I click on articles in the right-hand column, but here is the info I recieved and posted on my blog at http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=14808667... : Join us, bright and early, outside Chipotle Mexican Grill's annual shareholders Meeting to demand that it ensure fair wages and human rights for the workers who pick tomatoes that fill its tacos and burritos! WHEN: Wednesday, May 21 7:30 AM to 8:15 AM WHERE: Oxford Hotel 1600 17th St. (Wazee St. and 17th) Downtown Denver Coffee and food will be provided for participants. BACKGROUND: The Coalition of Immokalee Workers--a Florida-based organization of Latino, Haitian, and Mayan farmworkers--has called on Chipotle Mexican Grill to ensure fair wages and human rights for the workers who pick tomatoes that fill its tacos and burritos. Tomato pickers in Florida earn sub-poverty wages, have no right to form unions or to benefits of any kind, and have not received a significant raise in nearly 30 years. In the most extreme cases, workers are held in modern-day slavery and forced to work against their will. Chipotle's demand for the cheapest tomatoes, without regard for the human cost to workers, has contributed to the sweatshop conditions in the fields. Chipotle, however, has refused to even meet with the CIW and has even claimed to have switched tomato suppliers in an effort to avoid improving conditions for farmworkers. Chipotle claims to serve “food with integrity,” using sustainably-raised ingredients and free-range meat. Yet, it refuses to take simple steps to ensure that its tomatoes are not picked by exploited workers. Tell Chipotle that it cannot continue sidestepping the human rights – that “food with integrity” must include “work with dignity” for those who harvest its tomatoes. Denver Fair Food Committee robert@sfalliance.org 505-980-4220