Students Protest labor-related injustices

The JMU chapter of the International Justice Mission held a petition and protest this past week to seek justice for 27 fired workers in Honduras.

Last Wednesday and Thursday members of IJM worked on the commons collecting signatures advocating the rights of these workers. On Friday the group protested at the Burger King on Route 33 in Harrisonburg.

"We are laboring to hold Burger King accountable for labor rights abuses in Honduras," said senior Linsey Mayhew, IJM president.

Between Jan. 19 and Feb. 28, the individuals who worked in INTUR’s franchises in Honduras were fired without explanation and without compensation.

INTUR owns Burger King, Church’s Chicken and Little Caesar’s, but since there are only Burger Kings in Harrisonburg, the group protested there.

"We are trying to gain support for workers … and to raise support and awareness about this issue," Mayhew said.

At the protest on Friday, IJM gave the management at this Burger King a letter "explaining why [they were protesting] and asking them to call the headquarters and let them know that they are losing business and money," Mayhew said.

Junior Jennifer Mariano, vice president of IJM, said, "Within 30 minutes, [the local Burger King] called the owner of the franchise and they also want us to call [the owners]. It was a really quick reaction … which is what we wanted them to do"

Mayhew said they are protesting by "not buying anything from Burger King until [the workers] are compensated."

The members of IJM and protestors were pleased with the support. "I think we’ve been getting good responses, [we’re] making people more aware of these issues," said freshman Claire Moore.
The protest is an international event and several protests already have occurred throughout the United States. IJM and the Association For A More Just Society sponsored the protest. AJS includes lawyers and journalists who advocate through campaigns for people who don’t have the resources to defend themselves.

Mariano is a strong supporter of this protest. She said she feels a connection to Honduras because she has been to Nicaragua and is aware of the living conditions and environment there. She is concerned for the fired workers’ living conditions. "I’m a Christian, and I care about their welfare because God cares about their welfare," Mariano said. "It may be only 27 workers, but we should care about them," Mariano said.

Burger King management was not able to comment at the time of publication.