Student Senators had a long discussion about labor rights during their meeting this week.
Senators passed a resolution Tuesday night urging Publix to support a code of conduct outlined by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.
“Justice is not 50 cents for a 32-pound bucket of tomatoes,” said Senator Cassia Laham, who helped draft the resolution.
Oscar Otzoy, a member of the coalition, shared his personal experiences with the working conditions of the immigrant farm workers. His testimony was translated by Mark Rodriguez.
“Our basic rights are not respected,” Otzoy said. “We receive wages which are below the poverty level. All we want is for Publix to do the same thing that other companies have done.”
Nine other food retailers, including McDonald’s, Subway and Whole Foods have signed similar agreements demanding better working conditions in their supply chains, according to the resolution.
Another resolution supporting graduate assistants’ rights to have a labor union achieved almost unanimous consent.
The resolution was written in response to recently introduced Florida legislation amending union requirements which, if passed, would invalidate the current union, Graduate Assistants United.
“Graduate Assistants United represents the people who come out in the rain and teach our classes, grade our papers and ultimately help make our degrees as valuable as they are,” said former Progress Party Sen. Dave Schneider.
