Board to decide fate of Taco Bell
By Anna Andreyeva
Oct. 10, 2004 9:00 p.m.
The Associated Students of UCLA Services Committee echoed the
sentiment of a previous resolution during a meeting Friday in
urging that the university’s contract with Taco Bell should
be terminated.
Representatives voted to recommend to the ASUCLA board of
directors not to renew the contract with Taco Bell until
accusations of labor violations against the food chain are
resolved. The current contract ends Oct. 31.
The final decision on the contract now rests in the hands of the
board of directors, which will meet on Oct. 29.
In May, the board went against a similar resolution passed by
the Services Committee by allowing Taco Bell to stay on campus on a
probationary contract.
The issue of Taco Bell’s presence on the UCLA campus first
came up over a year ago and resulted in an ASUCLA resolution which
asked Taco Bell to provide a report on labor abuse allegations
presented against it by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, which
represents tomato pickers in Florida.
A campaign launched by the CIW called on Taco Bell to press its
tomato suppliers to pay better wages and correct alleged human
rights violations. It has been supported by organizations such as
the Social Justice Alliance at UCLA and the UC Students
Association.
Taco Bell never submitted the report, but promised to press for
an industry-wide change as well as help in lobbying for labor laws
in Florida. This announcement may have influenced ASUCLA board of
director’s decision to keep the eatery on campus in May.
During Friday’s meeting, discussion centered on whether
UCLA has enough leverage to influence Taco Bell. Some
representatives claimed that by keeping the eatery on campus, the
university will have a better chance of impacting its actions.
Others said removing the restaurant would be a media fiasco for
the company, which would have more impact.
“Our objective should be to send a message of our
commitment to social responsibility,” said Emmanuel Martinez,
chair of the Services Committee, during the meeting.
Members of the Social Justice Alliance responded favorably to
the resolution.
“They could have recommended that the board renew the
contract in the worst case scenario, or wholeheartedly decide that
it should not be renewed,” Michael Garner of the SJA said,
adding the committee did neither.
Those involved in the campaign against the eatery believe
students still support it.
“People still care,” said Christina Kaoh of the SJA.
But she said there is no information on how many are actually
boycotting it.
UCLA is only one of a number of institutions that has been
involved in the Taco Bell controversy.
The University of Notre Dame recently decided not to renew the
sponsorship agreement that its athletic department had with Taco
Bell. In April, students at the University of Florida participated
in hunger strikes and fasts as part of the boycott.
