Clearly not overly concerned about appearances, McDonald's announced in February the payment of over $15 million dollars in bonuses -- above and beyond baseline compensation -- to CEO Jim Skinner and two other top executives. Meanwhile, McDonald's continues to claim that the company can't afford to pay farmworkers one penny more per pound for the tomatoes they pick for the burger giant.

How did a small group of Mayan indigenous people armed with machetes, sticks, and a few guns-certainly no military threat to the Mexican regime-force the then-ruling PRI to make more concessions to the political opposition of their country in the three weeks following the Zapatistas' 1994 uprising than they had in the 50 years prior?

How did the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), a 2,500 member organization of farmworkers with no legal rights to organize in the USA, bring the world's largest restaurant corporation, Yum! Brands (Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken, A&W, Long John Silver’s, and Pizza Hut), to its knees in an age of rising corporate power and declining worker unionization?

Well, neither of them did it alone for one, so see below for how you can join the CIW this April in Chicago and support them in the meantime. You'll also find below a few connections between the CIW and the Zapatistas...not the least of which there statement of adherence to the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle, translated into English (for the first time?) here at Zapagringo.com...

People of Texas!!!

The Community Labor Action Project of Austin is organizing a bus headed to Chicago for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers mobilization in April and we want you to come!

What: McDonalds Truth Tour and major CIW mobilization in Chicago.

When: The bus from Austin, TX leaves at 1am on Thursday, April 12, and returns to Austin by 10pm on Sunday, April 15.

Who: Students, workers, community groups, activists, people of faith and folks from Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Waco, the Valley, and beyond.

Why: To rise up with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers for their annual Truth Tour and to tell McDonalds that we won't back down until they agree to work with the CIW for farmworker rights and a penny more per pound!

PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY! The Coalition of Immokalee Workers announces a major mobilization for farmworker justice, April 13 14, 2007, in the greater Chicago area. Make your plans to join us for historic actions that will usher in a new phase in the Campaign for Fair Food. CIW: "Today, we are tired, in the words of Martin Luther King Jr., of`relying on the good will and understanding of those who profit by exploiting us.'"

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers 2006 Midwest Mini-Tour has arrived back home—Immokalee—after 10 days of classroom presentations, presentations to congregations, and protests outside of numerous McDonald’s locations from Louisville, Kentucky to South Bend, Indiana. The tour was a resounding success—building local Alliance for Fair Food networks across the Midwest and laying the groundwork for the escalating campaign for fair food in McDonald’s supply chain.

In the most powerful of actions, CIW members—joined by dozens of allies—lined-up outside the international headquarters of McDonald’s with their hands outstretched towards McDonald’s onlookers with palms upwards with a simple, yet powerful, message—these are the hands that pick the tomatoes that feed the United States and grace the buns of BigMacs. Hands that provide such a critical link in our food chain deserve the respect and dignity of the job they do. Read more...

Photo Tour Updates | Video: Action outside McD HQ | Audio: MiniGira Promo | Entrevistas con Miembros | Interview with CIW Ally

Reports from the Road: Pittsburgh | Chicago

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers — a worker-rights organization for migrant laborers in Immokalee, Florida — is escalating its campaign to pressure McDonald's to raise the wages and organizing rights of laborers who pick tomatoes for the fast-food chain.
The Coalition came to Chicago in March 2006 as part of a 17-city tour, and the Coalition returns with an autumn Midwest Tour, which includes roving pickets across Chicago-area McDonald's and a protest at the McDonald's world headquarters in Oak Brook. Read more
Additional Resources: The Progressive: McDonald's is evil | Alliance for Fair Food | Student Farmworker Alliance

On Saturday, October 14, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers left Immokalee, Florida on their way to McDonalds headquarters in Chicago, IL.  Joining with the farmworkers are the Alliance for Fair Food and the Student Farmworker Alliance, who have called for National Days of Action to take place the last weekend in October to support the farmworkers.
On Friday October 27th the local Student Farmworker Alliance will be at the Forbes Ave McDonalds in Oakland protesting to get one more penny per pound for tomato pickers in Florida (which would double their wages) as well as to end slavery and sweatshop conditions in the fields.

[ Read more on the local demonstration... | Rustbelt Radio Coverage | Coalition of Immokalee Workers | Student-Farmworker Alliance ]

On October 15th, farmworkers from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and their allies will travel from Immokalee, FL — home of one of the largest farmworker communities in the country — to Chicago, IL, home of the world’s largest restaurant chain, McDonald’s on their '2006 Midwest Tour'. Farmworkers and members of the Alliance for Fair Food will be meeting with student, religious, labor, and community organizations, as well are picketing at local McDonald´s restaurants. The action is part of the CIW’s “Campaign for Fair Food.” The Campaign has gained impressive new support in recent months, including the US Catholic Conference of Bishops, actor Martin Sheen, and Nobel Prize laureate Jody Williams. Be sure to check out tour updates as the CIW travels to Chicago.
Following closely on the heels of the Midwest Tour, ally organization—Student/Farmworker Alliance—has called for two Days of Action October 27th and 28th. Dubbed the '1-2 Punch,' SFA hopes to knock sweatshop tomatoes out of McDonald's supply chain. More Info: Miami IMC: Student/Farmworker Alliance Days of Action! | Audio Sobre la Gira (mp3) | Video: 2006 March on McDonald's | 2005 Taco Bell Victory Coverage

1-2 Punch! Nationwide McDonald's actions Oct. 27-28th. From 'sweet spot' to sore spot!... This October 27-28th, join students and young people across the country in standing with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to end sweatshops and modern-day slavery in the fields!

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers — a worker-rights organization for migrant laborers in Immokalee, Florida — organized a campaign and boycott against Taco Bell demanding higher wages and greater accountability for laborers who picked the food used in Taco Bell products. In 2005, the campaign against Taco Bell succeeded after a four-year struggle.

Now the Coalition is taking on McDonald's to demand the same concessions as those won from Taco Bell. Chicago, home to the headquarters of McDonald's, is a key focal point in a seventeen city tour to raise awareness of the campaign. The Coalition's events in Chicago include a five-mile march to the Rock'n'Roll McDonald's on April 1 and a day full of cultural events. Read more

Updates: March details | March and rallly photos | Press advisory | Coverage from CommonDreams / Oneworld.net

Day Six: After crossing half the country and visiting 16 cities in just 5 days, CIW members finally reach McDonald's Global Headquarters in Chicago and deliver 3,500 cards signed by Immokalee workers, calling for fair wages and demanding human rights in the fields of Florida, the very foundation of the fast-food industry.

"Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed; you cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read; you cannot humiliate the person who has pride; and you cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore."

Cesar Chavez

One year after the historic agreement with Taco Bell, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and its allies embarked on a McDonald’s Truth Tour. The caravan bought its message of real rights for farmworkers to over 13 cities in 10 days.

In 2004 Taco Bell was the first player in the crowded field of fast food to take social responsibility for its supply chain. McDonald’s is not only balking at the demand of a fair wage, only a penny more per pound of tomatoes, but actively undermining the progress of the CIW and the agricultural industry. In response to the CIW’s request that McDonald’s come to the table with farmworkers, McDonald’s proposed that the fox guard the henhouse, otherwise known as SAFE , and ignored the core demands of the CIW.

Video, Audio and Text
Quien Sigue (Who’s Next) || Radio Free Urbana Interview
Students Turn Up Heat on McDonald’s || Brand-Busting the Golden Arches

Daily Reports
Day 1 || Day 2 || Day 3 East || Day 3 Central || || Day 3 West || Day 4 East || Day 4 Central || Day 4 West || Day 4 West PM || Day 5 East || Day 5 Central || Day 5 West || Day 6 || Day 7

Coalition of Immokalee Workers || Student/Farmworker Alliance || Alliance for Fair Food || Indymedia US Archive || Photos by JJ Tiziou

PRESS ADVISORY
For Immediate Release: March 31, 2006

Contacts: Lucas Benitez, 239-503-0133
Julia Perkins, 239-986-0891
Melody Gonzalez, 239-986-0847

Chicago, IL – On Saturday, April 1, farmworkers and allies participating in the 2006 McDonald’s Truth Tour will converge on Chicago, leading a 5-mile march through the city. The march will culminate in a rally downtown at the McDonald’s flagship restaurant commonly known as the “Rock ‘n’ Roll” McDonald’s. The CIW will be joined in the march by Bishop Manz, AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stewart Acuff, and many national and local community, student, human rights and faith leaders.

McDonald's sent one of their best into the fields of Immokalee to find out what it is like to pick tomatoes. Check out his video diary.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, along with the Student Farmworker Alliance and other supporters, launched their first protest in the nation at Wayne State, calling for more humane working conditions for tomato pickers. “It’s modern slavery,” said Sean Sellers, national coordinator of the alliance. “These workers are forced to work long hours, for little to no pay and no benefits, with the threat of violence.” Immokalee farm workers and many allies left Florida on March 26 to embark on a 10-day, 17-city Real Rights Tour to inform students about the exploitation workers face and discuss their goals to establish decent labor rights and higher wages.

Day 3 -- The Coalition of Immokalee Workers Central Leg of the McDonald’s Truth Tour made their first stop in Indianapolis. The CIW stood in solidarity with a local Service Employees International Union protest. SEIU and Justice for Janitors are protesting the firing of janitors by Redlee/SCS. There were reportedly fired for publically speaking up for better working conditions and occasionally making wages below the minimum wage. The Coalition then headed to the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center to talk about their struggle for fair wages and real rights against McDonald’s. Radio Free Urbana interviewed members of the CIW. Click to hear the interview. Please see Coalition of Immokalee Workers for continuing coverage and more information.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers has hit the road for the McDonald's Truth Tour 2006 - check out their website for some great photos and descriptions of the actions so far: www.ciw-online.org

As part of the National Student Labor Week of Action, a group of folks here in the Twin Cities are organizing a local protest in solidarity with the CIW.

Farmworker's Launch 2006 Real Rights Tour

Nashville, TN: On Monday, March 27th approximately 45 people-- Nashvillians and traveling Immokalee activists marched from the Woodbine Community Center to the Nolensville Road Mcdonalds urging the fast food restaurant chain to engage in fair labor practices. The Coalition of Immokallee workers came to Nashville and held an educational forum at Woodbine Community Center about the McDonalds Truth Tour, additionally, grassroots Latino leaders discussed local issues in the community. Then the assembled group participated in a march from the Woodbine Community Center to McDonalds at 2212 Nolensville Pike. The event was supported locally by the Grupo Comunitario Hispano de Tennessee, Vanderbilt Divinity School, Political Action Network, Middle Tennessee Jobs w/ Justice, Nashville Labor Council, the Nashville Peace and Justice Center and the Woodbine Community Organization.

We invite you to join us in Chicago this April 1st as we take the Campaign for Fair Food to the next level -- to McDonald's global headquarters, to the very top of the fast-food industry! Here below are the details for what will be a day full of memorable events --don't miss it!...The 2006 McDonald's Truth Tour -- "The Real Rights Tour" -- hits the road in four days! Visit the tour website (link below) and see how you can join us in any or all of the seventeen cities where the tour is set to stop, including the major march and rally in downtown Chicago on Saturday, April 1st.

Endorsed by organizations and individuals including Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), Amnesty International USA, United Students Against Sweatshops, the AFL-CIO, author Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), NAACP Board Chairman Julian Bond, SEIU, Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Bonnie Raitt, and Rev. Dr. Robert Edgar, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., the new "Alliance for Fair Food" (AFF) was announced in an exciting ceremony in Immokalee last night, Wednesday March 8th.

On April 1st – the fifth anniversary of the launch of the successful Taco Bell Boycott – the caravan will be joined by supporters from throughout the region for a major rally in Chicago, where they will call on the fast-food giant McDonald’s to work with the CIW and help establish real labor rights for the workers who pick tomatoes for McDonald’s suppliers. Specifically, workers and their allies will be calling for:

* The right to a fair wage, after more than 25 years of sub-poverty wages and stagnant piece rates;

* The right for farmworkers to participate in the decisions that affect their lives, after decades of sweatshop conditions and humiliating labor relations;

* The right to a real code of conduct based on modern labor standards, after McDonald’s and its suppliers unilaterally imposed a hollow code of conduct comprised of minimal labor standards and suspect monitoring.

Taco Bell Truth Tour 2005