Burger King settles dispute with CIW

Global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants Burger King (NYSE: BKC) resolved dispute with Coalition of Immokalee Workers by boosting wages and improving working conditions of farmers.

Photo: Burger King settles dispute with CIW

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is "a community-based worker organization" whose members are largely Latino, Haitian, and Mayan Indian immigrants working in low-wage jobs throughout the state of Florida. Structured along the lines of a "workers' center" model, the Coalition seeks to involve its members in working on behalf of their interests.

Burger King is bound to pay 1.5 cents more per pound of tomatoes it buys from Florida growers, with a penny of that given to workers. The rest will go to growers to help cover any additional payroll taxes and administrative costs.

The overall increase for workers will constitute about $250,000. The total cost to Burger King would be about $320,000, including the additional payments for growers.

To influence Burger King the CIW was staging statewide protests in 13 cities in Florida, including Gainesville, Naples, Orlando, Sarasota, Vero, West Palm Beach, and ending in Miami at Burger King's corporate headquarters.

The same deals were closed between the CIW and such giants as Taco Bell and McDonald.

Photo: valleywag.com