United Church of Christ, representing one million followers, endorses Wendy’s boycott!

BREAKING: United Church of Christ, representing one million followers, endorses Wendy’s boycott!

Rev. Michael Livingston, Executive Minister of Manhattan’s towering Riverside Church, a part of the United Church of Christ, speaking at the launch of the Wendy’s boycott in March 2016

“Wendy’s has turned its back on successful efforts in Florida to protect workers’ basic human rights and has moved its supply chain to Mexico where human rights abuses are rampant…”

Joining the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as well as T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, the United Church of Christ has, once again, taken a stand alongside farmworkers and formally endorsed the Wendy’s boycott. In a sweeping resolution, the UCC, which represents over 1 million worshippers in the United States, affirmed the just cause of farmworkers fighting for dignity in the fields, and condemned Wendy’s for its stubborn refusal to support those efforts.

In announcing the endorsement, The Rev. John C. Dorhauer, General Minister and President of the UCC, and Rev. Dr. Traci D. Blackmon, Executive Minister, Justice & Witness Ministries, put out this simple but powerful statement:

“The United Church of Christ has a long history of standing with farm workers against the injustice and invisibility that often accompanies the labor that satiates our consumerism. Through its recent resolution, the United Church of Christ Board of Directors affirms this history.

Our comforts must not be provided at the expense of our neighbor’s discomfort.

For ten years the Coalition of Immokalee Workers has asked Wendy’s to join other industry partners, by participating in the Fair Food Program in partnership with tomato growers, farm workers, and buyers, to improve the lives of farm workers.

For 10 years the request has been simple and fair: a zero-tolerance policy for slavery and sexual harassment, an additional penny per pound of tomatoes picked, and a formal grievance policy to address worker concerns.

Ten years is long enough to simply ask a major corporation to do the right thing.” …