Coalition of Immokalle Workers Needs Urgent Support

Urgent Call-In!!!

March 3, 2003

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is urging call-in on Monday, March 3rd (8am-5pm EST) to Jonathan D. Blum, Sr. Vice President, Public Affairs, Yum! (Taco Bell).

This urgent call for support is due to Taco Bell's refusal to speak with CIW or even acknowledge the hunger strike.

The call-ins are to demand that Taco Bell acknowledge the workers and allies who are on their 8th day of hunger strike outside Taco Bell corporate headquarters, and engage in serious dialogue.

Jonathan Blum's (pronounced bloom) personal phone and fax are: 502-874-8315 (fax) and 502-874-3820 (phone)

Please call or fax today!

Update on Hunger Strike in Irvine, CA Monday, March 3rd, 2003

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) enters the 8th day of the hunger strike on the sidewalk in front of Taco Bell corporate headquarters.

• Thirty-two workers and allies have decided to continue the hunger strike without setting an end date.
• Taco Bell still refuses to speak with the workers or even acknowledge the hunger strike.
• At 8 am on Monday March 3rd, the permits to be outside of Taco Bell headquarters will be revoked, leaving the strikers in a vulnerable position.

For the latest hunger strike updates, visit:

http://www.ciwonline.org/CIW%20hunger_strike_site/hunger%20strike%20home%203.html

Friday's Massive Demonstration at Taco Bell HQ

On Friday, Feb. 28th, over 1,000 people converged on Taco Bell Corporate Headquarters in Irvine California to show their solidarity with the fasting CIW farmworkers. Speakers at the rally included Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation, Anuradha Mittal of Food First as well as musicians JG & Havikenhayes, Slowrider and Los Jornaleros del Norte. Organizations participating include UFW, UFCW, SEIU, the Community-Farm Alliance of family farmers, and many more. There were nearly 100 solidarity actions across the United States and Canada this week, and including hundreds who fasted in support of the farmworkers.

Hundred of students from area schools, from middle schools to universities, attended the rally. In conjunction with the hunger strike, the Student-Farmworker Alliance has toured 14 California universities in four days, participating in rallies, protests, and attending benefit concerts in the strikers' honor. Schools included UCLA, Cal-State LA, USC, and San Diego State.

For a full-report back on Friday's massive convergence in Irvine, visit:

http://www.ciw-online.org/CIW%20hunger_strike_site/hunger_strike_daily_report.html

Visit CLR's Taco Bell campaign page for background information.

Information for this alert was provided by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, www.ciw-online.org.