Around the world, workers throughout the food supply chain are often poorly paid, denied benefits and vulnerable to temporary and contract work. We have thus convened a panel of leaders, activists and members in movements to improve livelihoods for all the people who work to provide us the food we eat. We hope you will join us for this important, engaging discussion. 

Long-time ILRF partner Edwin Cisco, general secretary of the Firestone Agricultural Workers Union of Liberia (FAWUL), will be there to discuss the rapid expansion of palm oil, a common ingredient in chocolate and many other snack foods, and FAWUL's efforts to organize and engage palm oil plantation workers in Liberia. FAWUL negotiated a ground-breaking collective bargaining agreement with Firestone Tires in 2008 that has improved working conditions and reduced child labor. Now, it is hoping to prevent child labor and other worker rights abuses by engaging palm oil workers now, while the industry is still young and expanding.

Other speakers include:

• Woong Chang, founding member of Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC) - DC, and ROC United board member
• Mark Lauritsen, International Vice President and Director of the Food Processing, Packing and Manufacturing Division of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW)
• OUR WALMART organizer (invited)

Moderator: Judy Gearhart, Executive Director, International Labor Rights Forum

The panel will be followed by a reception with light food and drinks. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased here. All proceeds raised will be split between FAWUL and the Food Chain Workers Alliance, a national coalition of unions, workers centers, and advocacy organizations throughout the food system. Both ROC and ILRF are founding members of the Alliance. 

We want to thank the AFL-CIO for providing food and drinks, including union-made wine and beer, and our co-sponsors, the United Steel Workers of America and UFCW, for their generous support. Additional thanks to our host committee for their contributions:

• Andy Banks, Deputy Director and Campaign Director, International Brotherhood of the Teamsters
• Silvia Fabela, organizer, UFCW/OUR Walmart*
• Pat O'Neill, Executive Vice President, United Food and Commercial Worker International Union*
• Lorette Picciano, Executive Director, Rural Coalition*

* organization listed for identification purposes only