LOUISVILLE Ky. Yum! Brands Inc., based here, has expanded its penny-per-pound surcharge on Florida tomatoes to all of its restaurant brands in an effort to improve the pay and working conditions for farm workers.
In 2005, Yum's Taco Bell chain was the first to agree to pay an extra penny-per-pound for tomatoes in an agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, or CIW, a farm worker advocacy group that has spearheaded a national campaign to end what they describe as slave-labor-like conditions on Florida farms. At a shareholder meeting last week, Yum! Brands officials reportedly announced that the surcharge is now also being paid for tomatoes purchased for the company's KFC, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's and A&W All-American brands.
McDonald's Corp. also recently agreed to pay the penny-per-pound surcharge. CIW and religious, labor and student groups supporting the "fair food" campaign have shifted pressure to Miami-based Burger King, which so far has declined to follow suit.