Update on BK and Immokalee Workers

We reported recently on Burger King's use of a controversial private security firm in its ongoing dispute with the Immokalee Workers Coalition about the wages of farmworkers who pick tomatoes. The Miami Herald reports that Burger King has fired two employees following the disclosure that a top official secretly posted blogs slamming the Coalition.

"Following an investigation, Burger King Corporation (BKC) has terminated two employees who participated in unauthorized activity on public Web sites which did not reflect the company's views and which were in violation of company policy....," the company said in a statement.

. . .

A local paper identified Web postings linked to Burger King Vice President Stephen Grover describing the coalition as "an attack organization lining the leaders (sic) pockets ... They make up issues and collect money from dupes that believe their story. To (sic) bad the people protesting don't have a clue regarding the facts. A bunch of fools!" He used his middle school daughter's screen name to make the posting.

The article also reported

Burger King's announcement comes a week after The Associated Press confirmed an e-mail it received in January from an individual purporting to support the coalition appeared to be sent from the company's server.

In March, an individual using the same password-protected e-mail account sent a message to a student group that supports the coalition, according to an AP investigation. That individual claimed to be a University of Virginia graduate student named "Kevin" who wanted to help the coalition boost farmworker wages. The individual asked to listen in on the group's strategy call regarding efforts to pressure Burger King to pay more for its Florida tomatoes.

When asked to identify himself further by the AP and the alliance, the individual did not respond.

Burger King also has discontinued the use of the private security firm which used similar tactics.

MM