In this issue:
- Take Action: Sign the petition to support human rights on North Carolina farms!
- Save the Date: Major Mobilization on Nov. 18 in NYC!
- Report from the 2019 Encuentro
- Reflections on the 10-19 FLOC Action
- NFWM Updates
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Take Action:
Support Human Rights on North Carolina Farms!
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Over the last several weeks, delegations of farm workers and community supporters delivered written notices to employers in support of FLOC members calling for an end to abuses and corruption in their workplace. They are demanding that the farms recognize their union and negotiate to end wage theft, abuse, and intimidation they have suffered at the hands of corrupt farm labor contractor (FLC) Salvador Barajas.
Learn more here.
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COMING SOON:
Major Mobilization with CIW in New York City!
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Major mobilization!
New York, November 18th, outside the office of Nelson Peltz, Wendy's Board Chairman.
Join us at 280 Park Avenue at 5:00 p.m
. Supporters of the Fair Food Nation will take to the streets to show Mr. Peltz that we are still here and we will continue until Wendy's signs the Fair Food Agreement. If you have friends or networks or can come to NYC for this gathering, please plan to participate. We'll see you there (contact
jtaylor@nfwm.org
).
If you cannot attend:
- Pray, reflect, act on that day to let Wendy's know you want Wendy's to sign the Fair Food Agreement to bring this worker-driven socially responsible model to their company.
- Take a store manager's letter,http://nfwm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wendy’s-Store-Manager-ltr-2019.pdf to your local Wendy's on that day.
- Use social media to share about this by posting on Facebook or tweeting: “I pledge to boycott @Wendys until the final fast food holdout joins @FairFoodProgram! bit.ly/boycott-wendys
Let Wendy's hear us,
both in NYC and around the country!
#boycottwendys
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Our YAYA member Yaretzi Perez attended the
2019 Encuentro
in Immokalee with the Student Farm Worker Alliance and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) . She spent a weekend with other students around the nation who are working on the
#BoycottWendys
campaign and learned from the experience of the CIW. As is the custom every year, there was a picket outside of a chosen venue. This year, it was Wendy's...again. Wendy's still has not signed onto the Fair Food Agreement. In solidarity with CIW and the Fair Food Program we urge everyone to continue boycotting Wendy's.
In her own words,
"Going to the Encuentro, it was easier to grasp how big this movement
is, and how we connect with people across the nation, giving the
reassurance that farm workers WILL have justice."
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Reflections on the 10/19 FLOC Action
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Hanna Stamey
M.Div Intern 2019-2020
On October 19, 2019, FLOC in partnership with the National Lawyers Guild, along with many other organizations, held a picket at the Circle K on Guess Road in Durham. This demonstration was held during the National Lawyers Guild’s annual conference and many lawyers took time out of the conference to come to the location to stand with farm workers and farm worker advocates. After gathering together, we were able to hear from Dave Austin and Bob Willis who shared the history and strategy of these pickets.
Once we started the demonstration, our group continued to grow in numbers. Many people along the road honked as a sign of support. It was not long before the manager of the Circle K called the police on us. After 5 police cars arrived, it was determined we were within our rights protesting. When the manager heard this she continued to get agitated and threatened to tow the cars that were present on the property. Our action letter was delivered to the manager, and we were able to make several action calls as a group. Because the manager was upset, we decided to end the picket early.
For more on FLOC pickets, and why we picket convenience stores, visit:
FLOC Pickets
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Welcome, Hanna!
We are proud to welcome Hanna Stamey as the Duke Divinity School Intern!
From Hanna:
I am currently in my second year at Duke Divinity School. I am a dual-degree student studying for a Master of Divinity and a Master of Social Work. I am also a Rural Fellow with Duke! I graduated from Appalachian State University in 2018 with a degree in Religious Studies and a minor in Social Work. My focus in social work has led me to be interested in how the church can provide social services in rural areas in North Carolina. I am specifically interested in how the church can provide these services in communities where most of the resources are located in urban spaces in the county.
After spending time along the border, this summer I wanted to come back to North Carolina and get more involved with migrant communities in our area. I hope to be able to more effectively serve migrant communities when I pastor a church one day. I am very excited about getting to work in this organization!
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Thank you for supporting the 2019 Harvest of Justice Season!
A note from from the Executive Director:
Thank you to all the individuals, churches, regional groups and member organizations who made the National Farm Worker Ministry's fall Harvest of Justice season a success! We noticed that the resources we developed were shared widely on social media and among more of our farm worker allies than in previous years. As a part of the Food Week of Action with the Presbyterian Hunger Program, our resources were included for farm worker actions. We made new friends through our focus on gender based violence among farm workers while raising awareness among our many supporters and partners. And even though the season is technically over, the resources will continue to be available for use and sharing. I have speaking engagements this fall and next year which will continue to promote farm worker awareness through the lens of gender based violence. Please continue to share these resources and contact me if I can help in any way.
-Julie Taylor.
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Job Opportunity:
The Catholic Labor Network and the National Farm Worker Ministry are planning a joint outreach campaign to cultivate Catholic support for farm labor causes. To do so, we seek a contract project coordinator to work on the campaign up to 10 hours per week. The ideal candidate is a bilingual practicing Catholic with experience in farm worker solidarity campaigns and who is located in North Carolina, California or Florida. (The Catholic Labor Network will reimburse meeting and travel expenses incurred in the campaign.) Please share this notice with friends and colleagues who might be a good fit for this work! Interested candidates should submit resumes and cover letters to
jtaylor@nfwm.org.
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NFWM Supports These Boycotts led by our Farm Worker Partners.
We hope you will, too!
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National Farm Worker Ministry | 919.807.8707 | nfwm@nfwm.org | nfwm.org
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