Whereas, coffee and chocolate are two of the most widely traded commodities in the world, and the United States consumes one-fifth of all the world’s coffee, making it the largest consumer in the world, and coffee is the second largest import into the U.S. after oil; and
Whereas, many small coffee and cocoa farmers receive prices for their crops that are less than the costs of production because a variety of commercial buyers, processors, and exporters take advantage of them, forcing them into a cycle of poverty and debt; and
Whereas, children have to quit school and are denied basic human rights including a sound education because they are forced to work on coffee farms to keep labor costs low; and
Whereas, there are severe environmental consequences to the current commercial methods of growing and harvesting these crops, e.g., poisoning the land due to overuse and misuse of herbicides and pesticides; and
Whereas, small growers and cooperatives in Latin America, Africa and Asia find it almost impossible to compete with large corporations and agribusiness in locating buyers for the high quality products they produce; and
Whereas, Fair Trade is a viable economic solution to this situation correcting market imbalances by guaranteeing a minimum price for small farmers’ harvest encouraging organic and sustainable cultivation practices, and assuring consumers that the coffee they drink was grown, harvested and purchased under fair and humane conditions; therefore be it
Resolved, that NYSUT build support for Fair Trade through an education and awareness campaign; and be it further
Resolved, that NYSUT encourage the purchasing of Fair Trade products by its 525,000 members and the schools within which they work; and be it further
Resolved, that NYSUT encourage all of its locals to show solidarity and support by these workers by pledging to purchase Fair Trade products especially, coffee, tea and chocolate, whenever possible; and be it further
Resolved, that the President of NYSUT consider creating a permanent task force to partner with the New York State Labor-Religion Coalition and to deal with promoting and supporting Fair Trade and international solidarity; this task force would be required to report at future Representative Assemblies.