Student Hunger Strikes Against Taco Hell

Boycott Taco Bell!

Student Hunger Strikes Continue!

Write Taco Bell! Demand Fair Wages!

[Information in this action alert comes from the Coalition
of Immokalee Workers.]

In this alert:
1) Update on the student hunger fasts in support of the
Taco Bell boycott
2) The demands of Immokalee workers
3) Write President of Taco Bell!

1) Update on the student hunger fasts in support of the
Taco Bell boycott

"We are fasting today so that we may taste justice
tomorrow." Those are the words of Tom Feeney, one of 19
students on hunger strike at the University of Florida.
The UF hunger strikers -- who started their fast this
past Monday and are determined to remain on strike through
Friday -- are protesting the university's contract with
Taco Bell over the fast-food giant's refusal to take steps
to clean up labor abuses in its tomato suppliers'
operations.

The University of Florida is one of three universities
where students are fasting this week in solidarity with
the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the boycott of Taco
Bell. At Central Michigan University, 12 students began a
rolling hunger strike last Thursday, and erected a tent
city on Monday that will remain in place until Friday.

And at Notre Dame University, where the now national
student hunger strike was born three weeks ago with the
week-long fast by Notre Dame student Tony Rivas, 70
students are set to begin a three-day hunger strike on
Wednesday. Yes, 70 students!! Notre Dame students are
striking in protest of the administration's silence in
response to calls for no new contracts with Taco Bell, and
to demand that the university provide more fairly-produced
products, including fair trade coffee.

In the words of Notre Dame student Alicia Lachiondo, "If
the university won't take responsibility, then we will."

The students' actions at Notre Dame set off a chain
reaction at schools from Grand Valley State University in
Michigan to the University of Florida, with protests at
one university moving students at the next to take action.
"The commitment of Notre Dame and Grand Valley is
inspiring," said Central Michigan University student
Angelo Moreno. "We felt compelled to support their
struggle for farmworkers' rights."

"We are all, as students, targeted by Taco Bell to buy
their food," he continued. "We see it necessary to show
solidarity with students across the country."

As the student hunger strike in support of the Taco Bell
boycott continues to grow, you can find all the news at
the CIW's website, at http://www.ciw-online.org. The next few
weeks are sure to be full of news in the Taco Bell
boycott, as the student movement carries the battle for
fair food to campuses across the country, and folks gear
up for the huge protest at Yum Brands' annual
shareholders' meeting in Louisville, Kentucky this May 20.


2) The Coalition of Immokalee Workers demands are the
following:

A. Convene a meaningful, three-part dialogue -- bringing
together representatives of Taco Bell, their Florida
tomato suppliers, and representatives of the Coalition of
Immokalee Workers - to discuss solutions to the problems
farmworkers face in Florida's fields.

B. Contribute to an immediate increase in farmworker wages
through a raise in the per pound rate Taco Bell pays for
tomatoes from its Florida suppliers.

C. Join with CIW and tomato industry representatives in
drafting strict wage and working condition standards to be
required of all Taco Bell tomato suppliers. Such standards
would necessarily require respect for pickers' fundamental
labor rights, including the right to a living wage and
overtime, and the right to organize without fear of
retaliation.

3) Write President of Taco Bell!

You can help! Please consider the situation of the
farmworkers that pick the tomatoes you eat and let Taco
Bell know that you expect them to help raise these
hardworking men and women out of poverty. Call, fax, or
write:

Emil J. Brolick, President and Chief Concept Officer
Taco Bell Corp.
17901 Von Karman
Irvine, California 92614
Tel. (949) 863-4500, fax (949) 863-4537

Your calls and letter really help - thanks.

And remember -

BOYCOTT the BELL!!!