Report Back: CIW Demonstration at Publix

On Thursday the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and the Student Farmworker Alliance (SFA) were in Tallahassee while on tour for their campaign to pressure Publix to put pressure on the growers that they buy tomatoes from to get a wage increase for farmworkers in Immokalee.

About thirty people gathered in front of the Publix parking lot.  Conveniently for Publix, signs were posted on the building that proclaimed that no sort of political literature distribution, demonstration or action was permitted on their property.  There was also a police presence there to anticipate the protest and guard Publix shopers from viewing the action itself (not a surprising development).

Although those limitations on the protest itself were present, supporters of the farmworkers gathered beside the parking lot on the sidewalk in front of Publix with signs.  Chants from “Up Up with the fair food nation… down down with exploitation!” to “Justice for Immokalee!” were shouted as people walked and drove by.  There was much support from passer byers, including some state employees who drove by.

The bus that brought those on tour was parked in the parking lot while protesters were on top of the bus with signs and chants until the police came and told them that they had to leave the property.  The parking space was not being utilized for any other purpose so getting kicked off of their property was clearly a sign of Publix trying to do what it could to hinder the action.

After the protest had been going on, the CIW sent around a letter to sign to get Publix to come to the table and negotiate directly with the farmworkers.  A group of about 15 went to present the letter to the management to discover that a corporate representative from their headquarters in Lakeland was there (being escorted by the police, an interesting display of the relationship between capital and the state) who requested that fewer people come to the actual presentation of the letter.  The corporate representative heard the stories of the farmworkers, and Publix expressed their sympathy and claimed that they would “pass the letter along” to their higher ups.

After that the demonstration went on a little while longer before ending.  Awareness was raised and many people who would not know about the situation of the workers of Immokalee were told while at the same time Publix continues to remain in an uncomfortable position.

After the march, the CIW held an event on the FSU campus hosted by the Center for Participant Education (CPE).  The room was at capacity (thus over 90 people) for their talk.  The CIW and SFA representatives explained the situation in Immokalee, presented a short documentary on their successful Burger King campaign.  After the presentation, students asked questions regarding the situation in South West Florida and were interested in the campaign even more when they were informed that the SFA is currently engaging in a campaign against Aramark which is the food provider for the Florida State campus in their Dine with Dignity campaign.

The struggle that the SFA and CIW are engaged in is an important one, especially considering the current anti-immigrant sentiment of the right-wing right now.  They underline the problem that these issues that affect us all are class issues.  It must be understood that the plight of foreign workers who seek work in the United States is the same struggle as workers born in the United States. The drive for capital to constantly expand and seek profits by lowering wages is what leads to mass immigration and the effort to divide the working class against itself.  Fight the bosses, not eachother!

Links:

Tallahassee Democrat Article