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HAAB Minutes 05/23/2001 Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Minutes May 23,2001 HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES OF INFORMAL DISCUSSION of May 23, 2001 PRESENT: ABSENT: David Correa, HAAB Member E]vin Santiago, HAAB Member Yolanda Cisneros, HAAB Member Ramiro Manalich, Chief Assistant County Attorney Leo Cardona, HAAB Member Frank Loney, HAAB Member Pete Cade, HAAB Member Robert Pina Susan Calkins A]so Present: Lucas Benitez Cortez Lucio Francisco Pedro Enrigue Carcamos Jose Antonio Martinez Resendiz Kate Chan ton Toni Garcia Andies Bomaca Julia Danie] A. Lopez Diaz Gerardo Reyes Chavez Mariano Mateo Domingo Alonzo Jose' Antonio Martinez Resendiz Marc Poirier Ramiro(?) Benitez Antonio Gomez Marianne Turner Francisco The May 23, 200] meeting of the Collier County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board (HAAB) took place at the Immoka]ee Community Center Conference Room and began at approximately 7:]4 p.m. No quorum was reached; therefore, no formal HAAB action was taken. The minutes of this discussion will be distributed to all Board members for their information. Representatives of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) updated the Board regarding their recent activities. CIW member Gerardo Reyes stated that the basic problem continues to be low salaries. CIW Leader Lucas Benitez mentioned that the Coalition brought attention to their problems. He described that the Gargiulo Company pays 50 cents per bucket of tomatoes, but that most of the other growers pay between 40 and 50 cents per bucket. Previously the amount was 35 to 40 cents per bucket. Mr. Reyes mentioned the Six L's Company is keeping the market artificially low at 40 cents per bucket because of the large volume of tomatoes that they grow and for which they pay the workers 40 cents per bucket. Mr. Reyes emphasized that these low wages bring with them problems for those living in the community. He said that his organization asked the Governor of the State of Florida to become involved in the matter but that the Governor had refused describing this as a "labor dispute." Lucas Benitez described to the members a march which the Coalition organized from the City of Quincy to Tallahassee. He mentioned that a letter had been sent to the Governor and that the letter was authored by a number of civic associations. The letter asked the Governor to have regional conferences of growers and farm workers at which the Governor would attend and/or have representatives present. The Governor refused the offer on the basis that this was a "mediation" role which he did not think was appropriate. Lucas Benitez clarified that all that his organization was asking for was for the Governor to be the catalyst for dialogue and not to be a mediator. Shortly after the letter went to the Governor, Lucas reports that $6.2 Million in affordable housing was provided by the State. He said that his organization is grateful for that gesture, but that is not the root of the problem. He says that the farm workers should not have to depend on subsidies. Laura Germino mentioned that the farm workers should be able to live on what they earn and not on subsidies. She mentioned that Collier growers have a better profit margin than other growers. However, as private firms, they are not publicly traded, not unionized and do not have to open up their books for inspection. Lucas Benitez added that the growers complain that they cannot pay higher wages due to market forces. He says that the farm workers are merely asking for dialogue and proof of the economic situation. He says they are not asking for the growers to have to go into bankruptcy. Elvin Santiago stated that he had seen Canadian tomatoes in his supermarket and asked why. He mentioned that in Puerto Rico, inability of employers to compete with overseas market was a reality. Still, he could not understand why the growers would not show the proof of what their economic problems are in Collier. He said that the trend was definitely for the big producers to keep getting bigger. Yolanda Cisneros asked the CIW if they were picketing Taco Bell due to Collier Produce being used by Taco Bell. Lucas Benitez answered that before there were many small growers. Now there are big corporations that sell to other corporations. He mentioned that 30% of Taco Bell tomatoes are from Six L's. For that reason they have chosen to take their case to the consumers and the corporations which are involved in the matter. He says that the growers continue to refuse to have dialogue. Their efforts have concentrated on Taco Bell. One year ago they asked the CEO of Taco Bell to intervene, but after a few communications, there was no more contact. They had set forth their problems in the letters to Taco Bell and asked Taco Bell to use its market power to persuade Six L's to have dialogue. They also asked Taco Bell to add an additional penny per pound to raise the wages to inflation levels. The effect of the additional cent would be to raise the price per bucket by 32 cents. This increase would then be passed on to the workers. Elvin Santiago suggested to the CIW that they should find out and contact the distributors and brokers involved in the business. Laura Germino mentioned that, like Nike factories in the Third World, Taco Bell has factories in the Immokalee community. Lucas Benitez said that he does not believe there is a broker acting between 6 L's and Taco Bell. Rather, they appear to be contracting directly to save dollars. Laura Germino 2 and Mr. Reyes said that if Taco Bell didn't use Collier tomatoes it would promptly deny any wrongdoing. Essentially they are paying 1978 wages when fertilizer and pesticides are being paid for at current prices. Lucas Benitez said that on a radio show, Taco Bell representatives had indicated that they would not get involved in this dispute because they don't own farms in Florida. At this point, Mr. Benitez distributed literature and sample stickers from their campaign to the Board Members. Copies are attached. David Correa mentioned that it appeared that the Immokalee community is subsidizing Taco Bell. It was indicated that Six L's also operates in Naples and pays the 40 cents per bucket in that location. Mr. Lucio from the CIW mentioned that 6 L's has land in a number of states and pays the same low wages there as well. They often operate under different names. Lucas Benitez mentioned that these companies are also sold and traded to other entities. Be said that the emphasis on Taco Bell is because they have a recognizable corporate public face and image to be concerned about. Elvin Santiago suggested that the farm workers try to show how our children and families are affected by the situation. To this, the members of the audience stated that there were bad living conditions up and down the east coast properties which are run by 6 L's. Lucas Benitez pointed that there is a lack of access to labor camps for the public to see the conditions. The CIW members present asked the HAAB to advise the County Commissioners of the misery and low wages endured by the farm workers and about the need for support for the farm workers' cause. Lucas Benitez mentioned that some governments in the United States have passed resolutions supporting these types of causes. Specifically, the CIW is interested in the Hispanic Board requesting the Board of County Commissioners to call for dialogue between the growers and the farm workers. This is necessary because the earnings of the farm workers have been estimated to be about $7,600.00 per year by the Labor Department. This translates to $2.50 per hour. The farm workers live in the United States most of the year but follow the crops north and south for the harvest. Most of the farm workers are not U.S. citizens. Lucas Benitez mentioned that the CIW is also asking for the HAAB to request that the County Commission support their positions regarding Taco Bell. He mentioned that their situation has been the subject of news stories on ABC World News Tonight and on Univision. David Correa asked if the CIW is aware of two prior Board of County Commissioners' rejections of HAAB requests to have a resolution sent by the County Commission to the Governor supporting dialogue of the farm workers' issue. He mentioned that even though there had been those prior rejections, the HAAB could vote to go back to the BCC and try again to get support for the resolution. Victor Valdes, Editor of Las Naciones News, mentioned that when the HAAB made their prior request he was there and spoke and that unacceptable responses were received from former commissioners who now have legal problems. Mr. Reyes stated that most of the farm workers do not have the resources to make changes to take other low paying jobs. Lucas Benitez said that it doesn't matter if farm workers leave their jobs because 3 tomatoes will still need picking and there will be other farm workers to replace them. It is necessary to preserve the dignity of a living wage for whoever the farm workers are at the time. He said the growers have created an unstable job market due to their low wages. He says the CIW wants change for the better. He mentioned that many of the workers from Haiti now are shifting to other service jobs. Regardless, there will still be a need for farm workers to pick the crop. Yolanda Cisneros mentioned that new County Commissioner Member Jim Coletta has been very involved in Immokalee in the past and she is optimistic that he will be of assistance. The members of the CIW described the effects of low wages on the Immokalee community. He stated that these wages do not allow people to pay for their expenses. They propose that the Commissioners come to visit the Coalition and tour the labor camps. He said that with greater wages there would be more businesses and small merchants would prosper. Subsidized housing is only a partial solution. Lucas Benitez added that all immigrants have a dream of forging their own future but they cannot save and forge their own future with ultra-low wages. David Correa explained that he would seek a decision by the Hispanic Board at the next HAAB meeting. The goal will be to try to appear before the County Commission in June on these issues. He also reminded everyone of the importance of voter registration. Elvin Santiago observed that there are many Mexicans who work in his store who would be eligible to vote and they must do so if they wish to exercise power. Coalition for Justice in River Park Mr. Valdes introduced Kemi Reed who is a representative of the Coalition for Justice in the River Park Area of Naples. She commented regarding the death of Marvin Harris as the result of a police shooting. She said he was shot by police in the back. She mentioned that River Park is coming together to protest the killing and the minorities are angry. She said that the brutality had been going on for many years by the police and the Sheriff's Department. She is asking for everyone to join together for justice for Marvin Harris. She believes that, as in other cities like Cincinnati, the authorities will find that the killing was justified. It is important that complaints continue to be presented to city officials about police treatment. She said that her group would also support the farm workers' issues in regard to Taco Bell. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:45 p.m. Prepared by: Ramiro Mafialich, Chief Assistant County Attorney and HAAB Staff Liaison 4 Approved by the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board on thiSis:-f( day of June, 2001. <fJ~ c]A-R~) David Correa, Chairman 5