AMERICAN LEFT HISTORY

This space is dedicated to the proposition that we need to know the history of the struggles on the left and of earlier progressive movements here and world-wide. If we can learn from the mistakes made in the past (as well as what went right) we can move forward in the future to create a more just and equitable society. We will be reviewing books, CDs, and movies we believe everyone needs to read, hear and look at as well as making commentary from time to time. Greg Green, site manager

Saturday, March 30, 2019

BREAKING: Florida Atlantic University Student Government joins UM, UF in unanimously approving resolution to boot Wendy’s from campus!

Coalition of Immokalee Workers<workers@ciw-online.org>

3/25/2019 9:33 AM

To alfredjohnson34@comcast.net

BREAKING: Florida Atlantic University Student Government joins UM, UF in unanimously approving resolution to boot Wendy’s from campus!

Florida Atlantic University students gather for a photo before delivering a letter to FAU President John Kelly in 2017 calling on the university to cut its contract with Wendy’s. The students’ continued organizing resulted in the FAU student government voting unanimously to pass a resolution in support of the “Boot the Braids” campaign demands last week.

Boca Raton House Resolution 9-31 (excerpt):

…WHEREAS, Florida Atlantic University should cut ties with Wendy’s by removing them from FAU’s food court, in order to send a message that Wendy’s behavior will not be tolerated, and;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton House of Representatives pushes the administration to now remove Wendy’s from the Boca Raton Campus at Florida Atlantic University.

Last Friday, student leaders at Florida Atlantic University added their voices to the swelling chorus of student and city governments calling for universities to cut ties with Wendy’s until the company joins the award-winning Fair Food Program. Echoing sister resolutions at theUniversity of Michigan and the University of Florida, the FAU Boca Raton House of Representatives unanimously voted to approve legislation demanding that Wendy’s be removed from the campus food court due the fast-food giant’s unconscionable refusal to open its tomato supply chain to the audits and complaint investigation process of the Fair Food Program as McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, Taco Bell and Chipotle agreed to do over a decade ago.

Since 2017, students have been tirelessly educating the FAU community, including President John Kelly, about the national Wendy’s Boycott and the egregious human rights violations that go unchecked on farms beyond the protections of the Fair Food Program.

The campaign at FAU picked up steam this spring, when student organizations – including FAU Student Power, Plant Based Society, National Organization of Women and Feminist Student Graduate Association – banded together to organize a petition drive to collect hundreds of student signatures in support of the Boot the Braids Campaign. Adding to the drumbeat of support, House Representative Gabby Miernik authored a clear-cut resolution urging FAU’s administration to boot Wendy’s from campus.

Here below is the resolution in its entirety. This is a developing story, so be sure to check back soon for more news from the FAU campaign!:

Boca Raton House Resolution 19-31

Remove Wendy’s from the Boca Raton Campus of Florida Atlantic University

Author: Rep. Miernik

Sponsor: Rep. Hamilton

WHEREAS, Wendy’s executives have refused to join the Fair Food Program, an agreement designed and implemented by farmworkers to protect them from mistreatment, wage garnishment, sexual harassment, and other human rights violations in the fields, and;

WHEREAS, although many other corporations have signed the program, such as McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Burger King, Walmart, and Subway; Wendy’s refuses, and;

WHEREAS, over the past couple months and with the help of members from FAU Student Power, the Alliance of Fair Food and Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Plant Based Society, National Organization of Women & Feminist Student Graduate Association we have been able to collect over 230 signatures from Florida Atlantic University students that clearly shows the number of support for the removal of Wendy’s from our campus, and;

WHEREAS, Florida Atlantic University should cut ties with Wendy’s by removing them from FAU’s food court, in order to send a message that Wendy’s behavior will not be tolerated, and;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton House of Representatives pushes the administration to now remove Wendy’s from the Boca Raton Campus at Florida Atlantic University.

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , the FAU Boca Raton campus House of Representatives will deliver this resolution to Chartwells if this resolution is passed.

Stay tuned for more news from the Boot the Braids front soon!

Coalition of Immokalee Workers

(239) 657 8311 | workers@ciw-online.org | www.ciw-online.org