Farm workers bike to Publix in search of better wages

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is peddling a message. Or make that pedaling.

A handful of farm workers and a few of their supporters wrapped up a week-long, 200 mile bicycle ride across the state today. The purpose was to draw attention to poor working conditions on tomato farms and get increased prices for the produce workers pick.

The group's final destination on a drizzly afternoon was Publix headquarters in Lakeland.

Farm worker Wilson Perez, 21, made the 200-mile bike ride from Immokalee in Collier County.

"After years of Publix ignoring our correspondence, we've decided to ride our bikes 200 miles to Lakeland to invite CEO Ed Crenshaw to come to Immokalee and see the conditions that farm workers face and how Publix can be part of the solution to abuses in poverty," Perez said.

The coalition and its faith-based supporters at Interfaith Operation want Publix to pay a penny more per pound for tomatoes. The groups say that money would significantly improve farm worker pay.

But as cyclists approached the security gate to Publix headquarters on Airport Road, they were met by representatives who explained CEO Ed Crenshaw would not be meeting with them.

Publix spokeswoman Shannon Patten says the company is well-versed on the coalition's complaints and demands but is not getting involved. She said the farm worker's dispute is with their employers, not Publix.

"They're upset about the terms and conditions of their employment," Patten said.

"With more than 35,000 different products in the average store, there are countless opportunities for disputes such as this to take place so we just have a long practice of non-intervention in disputes such as this," she said.

Jordan Buckley with Interfaith Operation made the cross-state bike ride to support farm workers and says protestors are not asking Publix to settle a fight on workers' behalf.

"Publix would simply pay a slight premium, this penny per pound, which would then be distributed by the growers on to the farm workers. No one is asking to pay the farm workers directly," Buckley said.

Buckley said 90 percent of tomato farmers in the state have agreed to pass on the penny per pound increase.

Publix says it is willing to pay a penny or even more per pound for tomatoes if that's what growers or suppliers require. But so far, the company says, it's only workers asking for the increase.