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Micky D Gives Migrants a Raise
Penny-a-pound increase for tomato pickers sets industry standard
By Heather McPherson
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Posted Apr 10, 07 10:50 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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The cent-a-pound increase McDonald's agreed to grant their tomato-picking field hands yesterday may sound like, well, pennies, but it represents a more than 70% raise, the Chicago Tribune reports. And the deal was hailed as paving the way for negotiations between migrant workers and other corporate Goliaths across the country.
Former president Jimmy Carter brokered the agreement, which also includes standards for working conditions. McDonald's has faced increasing criticism for its treatment of farm laborers; Yum Brands, the parent corporation of Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, gave its field hands a similar raise two years ago. McDonald's uses tomatoes only in salads and some sandwiches.