Ethel Kennedy leads farm workers' protest near home of Wendy's billionaire chairman

Hundreds of protesters, many farm workers, led by Ethel Kennedy, demonstrated near the home of Wendy's fast food chain chairman Nelson Peltz in hopes of convincing the company to pay a penny-per-pound fee for its tomatoes to supplement some farm workers' wages.

The Palm Beach Post reports the Immokalee Coalition of Farmworker march near the billionaire's Palm Beach, FL, home was peaceful Saturday. A federal judge had ruled the coalition could use loudspeakers but said marchers must remain on the sidewalk. Kennedy, the 87-year-old widow of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, led the charge onto the barrier island where protesters held signs to boycott the chain and some acted out a skit.

Tomato harvesters make an average of about $10,000 during the six-month season, earning 50 ¢ for every 32-pound basket they fill. The coalition has used demonstrations and consumer boycotts to pressure the five largest fast food companies — Wendy's, McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, and Taco Bell — into joining its "fair food program." All but Wendy's eventually joined. The coalition says the program can add $20 to $150 to their weekly checks.

Participating companies pay the extra penny-per-pound to their tomato growers to supplement field worker wages in Florida and six other states: Georgia, the Carolinas, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey.

Peltz, a 73-year-old investor, has a net worth of $1.35 billion and is the 423rd richest American, according to Forbes Magazine.

At: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2016/03/13/ethel-kennedy-leads-farmworkers-protest-near-home-wendy-billionaire-chairman/