By Khamille Labbe, Contributing Writer
For the past ten years, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) has been coming to Saint Leo University to educate both staff and students about the everyday mistreatment of farmworkers and other varying issues migrant workers face. On Feb. 1-2, 2022, the coalition will gather once again to present to students the challenges farmworkers have experienced, the current difficulties they are facing, and what can be done for the betterment migrate worker’s futures.
The CIW is a human rights organization that focuses on fighting human trafficking, gender-based violence in the workplace, and transforming the United States’ agricultural industry. The CIW first started in 1993 as a small group of workers who wanted to better their community overall. In time, farmworkers in the group realized that they were being forced into mass production of fruits and vegetables, while the companies they worked for exerted a downward pressure on wages and living and working conditions.
“It really just hurts me to see us take advantage of anybody who’s vulnerable,” said Saint Leo theology professor, Dr. Randall Woodard, during one of last year’s presentation. Woodard got involved with the CIW, as he shares the same belief that farmworkers should be treated well for as hard as they work.
As an immigrant himself, Woodard, who is Canadian, has gone through varying living conditions with each bringing difficulties of their own. Additionally, he would work to provide for himself and find proper rooms and healthcare; however, the pay would not suffice. Not only can he sympathize with what migrant works have gone through, but he empathizes with what they continue to struggle with. This is why he’s associated with the CIW.
“It’s not a political issue or a religious issue – it’s a human rights issue,” said Woodard, regarding why people should not be hesitant to join the coalition’s programs and mission.
One of the CIW’s program is the Fair Food Program (FFP). Launched in 2011, the program is focused on creating a partnership among farmworkers, Florida tomato growers, and retail organizations in hopes of protecting workers from being taken advantage of. Many stores–like Whole Foods, Walmart, and Subway–now participate in the Fair Food Program, while many other stores refuse to take part in the program.
“I got to learn a lot about where the food I consume comes from,” said past presentation attendee, junior criminal justice major, Isangeley Lopez.
Lopez was first introduced to CIW during their presentation last semester and plans on attending their next one in the coming month.
“Now I can say I’m more conscious about these issues and use my purchases as my voice,” she said.
For those who might be attending the CIW’s presentation for the first time, Lopez says it’s most important to pay attention to the presenter’s stories.
“Pay attention to their stories and see how far they come because it shows you how important what they do is,” she said.
Everyone is welcome to join the upcoming presentation and learn more about CIW. For anyone who is interested in taking part in this presentation, an email should be sent to randall.woodard@saintleo.edu to set up a visit for class on either of the dates. All presentations will take place on Zoom.
