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Over 150 Ohio Faith Leaders Call on Wendy’s CEO to Ensure Fair Treatment and Dignity for Farmworkers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, November 19, 2021

MEDIA CONTACT

Austin Schuler, aschuler@faithinpubliclife.org, (540) 280-3393

Over 150 Ohio Faith Leaders Call on Wendy’s CEO to Ensure 

Fair Treatment and Dignity for Farmworkers

“Few workers in the United States are so poor, excluded and marginalized as the workers who plant and harvest our food – including the tomatoes used to garnish Wendy’s hamburgers.” 

Columbus, Ohio — Over 150 Ohio faith leaders have signed a petition addressed to Todd A. Penegor, CEO of Wendy’s, calling on Wendy’s to join its fast-food industry peers (McDonald’s, Subway, and Burger King) by enrolling in the Fair Food Program, initiated by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. 

Co-sponsoring organizations include: Faith in Public Life, Vincentian Ohio Action Network, National Farm Worker Ministry, The Catholic Labor Network

The letter reads in part: 

“Our faith traditions direct us to pay special attention to the needs of the poor, the excluded and the marginalized. Few workers in the United States are so poor, excluded and marginalized as the workers who plant and harvest our food – including the tomatoes used to garnish Wendy’s hamburgers.” 

“…By refusing to participate in the Fair Food Program, Wendy’s has opted to profit from farm worker abuse and poverty and continues to provide a market for less reputable growers. Until Wendy’s does the right thing and enrolls in the Fair Food Program, we will honor the boycott called by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and encourage others to honor it as well.”

For the full letter and list of signers, click here.

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Faith in Public Life is a national movement of clergy and faith leaders united in the prophetic pursuit of justice, equality and the common good. Together, we are leading the fight to advance just policies at the state and federal level. Our network of 50,000 leaders engage in bold moral action that affirms our values and the human dignity of all.

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