Farm worker rights groups protest Wendy's on UF campus

One more penny per pound... that's what Gainesville residents are saying farm workers should get paid for tomatoes.

Members of UF Chispas, a student organization advocating for the local migrant community, and the non-profit coalition of Immokalee workers marched in protest of working conditions for field workers. The protesters say Wendy's is the only major fast-food chain not to join the Fair Food Program. The program aims to curb human rights violations in fields and educate workers on their rights.

"We march to get Wendy's kicked off campus cause we don't want a corporation that exploits farm workers, allows sexual abuse to happen in the fields, and allows their farm workers to be mistreated," said Chispas membership director Cristina Martinez.

The group walked from the Reitz union to Tigert hall, calling on President Fuchs to have Wendy's removed from campus.

"Our food comes from somewhere and you should know where our food comes from and at the very least we at least want our food not to come from places where people are being abused," Martinez says. "We don't want our food coming from places where people are being exploited and from people who don't have human rights."

McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell and Subway are among chains that have joined the program.