
At today’s piece rate, Florida farmworkers have to pick more than two-and-a-half tons of tomatoes to earn the equivalent of Florida’s minimum wage for a 10-hour workday. And, because of exclusions from key labor reform measures, farmworkers do not have the right to overtime pay, nor the right to organize and collectively bargain with their employers.
Today on NPR’s Latino USA, we track the current efforts of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in Florida. They have successfully won wage increases from a number of fast food restaurant chains, now they’re turning to a super market chain and its customers — trying to win a public relations battle by raising awareness of the connection between your salad and their lives. And along the way, they’re talking about modern day slavery in the state of Florida. Andrew Stelzer has our report.
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Read more about the Florida Modern-Day Slavery Museum.