Coalition of Immokalee Workers

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is a non-profit organization (calling itself "a community-based worker organization") in Immokalee, Florida, whose members are "largely Latino, Haitian, and Mayan Indian immigrants working in low-wage jobs throughout the state."

Founded in 1993, the group has seen major success on several fronts. The CIW’s Campaign for Fair Food has resulted in agreements with major food retailers, such as Taco Bell, McDonald's, Compass Group, Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's, to improve wages and working conditions for farmworkers in the tomato supply chain. The campaign has also resulted in a historic agreement with the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange to implement these reforms on 90% of the state’s tomato farms, affecting more than 30,000 farmworkers and 30,000 acres of production.

Additionally, the CIW has aided in the investigation and federal prosecution of several slavery operations in Floridian agriculture. For these efforts, the U.S. Department of State presented the CIW with a 2010 Hero Acting to End Modern-Day Slavery Award. Luis CdeBaca, Ambassador-at-Large of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, stated during the recognition ceremony that CIW members "have been important partners and, more importantly, an independent and pressing voice as they uncover slavery rings, tap the power of the workers, and hold companies and governments accountable" and credited the CIW for developing "a multi-sectoral approach, tapping NGOs, law enforcement, labor inspectors and the survivors, themselves" to combat forced labor in the U.S. produce industry.