In November 2019, Resolution 1156 was introduced urging Wendy's to join the Fair Food Program and support farmworkers' human rights. For over seven years, farmworkers and hundreds of thousands of consumers have demanded legally binding enforcement against sexual violence, forced labor, and other human rights risks in Wendy’s supply chain by joining the award-winning Fair Food Program.
The company’s top decision-makers (many of whom are based here in NYC) have unconscionably refused to take meaningful action to prevent these egregious human rights violations — when a proven solution is right at their fingertips. Meanwhile, all of the other largest fast-food companies — McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, and Yum! Brands — joined the Fair Food Program over a decade ago. All except Wendy’s.
This resolution has already gained monumental support from many Council Members and a wide cross-section of New Yorkers, including students, religious, political, and financial community leaders, as well as many community organizations. In December 2019 the NYC Women's Caucus wrote a powerful letter to Wendy's in support of the resolution. Most recently, former Manhattan Borough President, Ruth Messinger penned an op-ed to the Gotham Gazette calling on the New York City Council to “act swiftly to send a message to Wendy’s about how much New York values human dignity and worth.” And when investors representing over $1 trillion in assets managed sent a letter to Wendy’s in April 2021 urging the company to join the Fair Food Program to address “the dire consequences of COVID-19 and of systemic racism,” the Office of the New York City Comptroller was among the investors who signed.
Help us ensure that resolution 1156 passes, by participating in our click-to-call in order to urge other Council Members to co-sponsor the resolution!
“Wendy’s wants the smiling face on its logo to convey friendliness and quality. Those who know better understand that behind that smile is a corporate structure that stands alone among its peers in rejecting common-sense protections for workers in its supply chain. It is time for Wendy’s to do its part to protect the vulnerable and working class, and the New York City Council should act swiftly to send a message to Wendy’s about how much New York values human dignity and worth.” - Ruth Messinger, former Manhattan borough president