I’m honored to be here – I want to thank Bernie (Sanders) for that kind introduction.  We’re all here for one reason – to join with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, to support our sisters and brothers who pick tomatoes in the fields of Florida, to stand up for what's right.

We’re here because when you’re doing the tough work of tomato-picking day after day – week after week – when you’re struggling just to make a living, just to survive – then you deserve fair wages and decent treatment so you can support yourself and your loved ones.

Instead, our food is harvested by workers who are sometimes held against their will – beaten forced to work for little pay or even no pay at all.

Some are held in outright slavery, thousands more are trying to survive with poverty wages – no right to overtime pay – no sick leave – no freedom to organize into unions for a better life – no future – no hope.

I've been to Immokalee – I've seen what’s happening.  It’s wrong.

But Burger King has turned its back on the workers who supply the tomatoes that end up in Burger King restaurants everywhere.

Some fast-food giants are showing a little respect for the tomato pickers – McDonald's is, Yum Brands is.  They made a promise to pay a penny a pound more for their tomatoes so the tomato pickers could get a long-overdue pay raise.

But not Burger King – they refuse to do the right thing.  They want to make bigger and bigger profits by keeping down the pay of the tomato pickers.  What Burger King and others like them are doing is wrong – it's immoral – and that's why we're fighting back.

So I come here today with two messages.  The first message is for the management of Burger King.  That message is:  We know what you’re up to – we see you cheating the tomato pickers out of a decent wage.  We want you to know that all of us here are joining together to fight for the tomato pickers to win what every worker is entitled to have.

We're joining in the CIW's national petition drive to demand that Burger King and other big operators in the food industry start working with the CIW to improve the wages and working conditions of the tomato pickers.

I also come here with a message for every woman and man who picks tomatoes.  It comes from the millions of women and men who are proud members of the AFL-CIO in every city and town across the country – the workers who build our homes, teach our kids, fight our fires, and nurse us when we’re sick.

That message is:  You are not alone – we know about your courage – we’re proud of you for standing up for what’s right.  I promise you that we’ll stand with you – we’ll do whatever it takes – and we’ll give you all our support.

Your struggle is our struggle, your dream is our dream, your goal is our goal – that tomato pickers in Florida and all workers everywhere in America can join together and build a better life.

And we're going to be right beside you until the morning arrives when you win what you deserve – when you have better pay and decent conditions – when you and your hard work are respected and honored – when justice is finally done.