1-800-Flowers Earns D Minus On Workers' Rights

In the past 24 hours, over 40,000 Change.org members have asked 1-800-Flowers, the world's largest florist, to offer Fair Trade certified arrangements that aren't picked by abused women in South America. Now Free2Work, a leading corporate responsibility watchdog, has given the company a D- on respecting workers. Will 1-800-Flowers listen to the combination of anti-trafficking experts and tens of thousands of their customers' demands for better flowers before Valentine's Day?

1-800-Flowers's nearly failing Free2Work grade stems from the fact that the company doesn't have a code of conduct for suppliers (something Change.org members are asking for), doesn't conduct any monitoring for forced or child labor, and doesn't protect collective bargaining.  Furthermore, they fail to address the seasonal nature of the cut flower industry, which leaves workers particularly vulnerable to wage and hour exploitation. According to Julie Kaszton, Outreach Coordinator for Free2Work,

"Roses are the hottest item sold on Valentine's Day- over 64 million were sold last year- and Latin-American countries account for 40 percent of all roses sold in the United States.  For these exploited workers, it's too bad 1-800-Flower's 'Smile Guarantee' doesn't apply to them."

Valentine's Day is undoubtedly the biggest flower holiday in the U.S., and 1-800-Flowers stands to cash in on it big time. But part of that profit will come at the expense of cut flower workers, many of whom are women forced to endure long hours, unfair pay, and regular harassment. And that's because, as Free2Work describes in detail on their website, 1-800-Flowers is failing workers.

Fortunately, 1-800-Flowers can do some simple extra credit work to get their Free2Work grade up and make thousands of Change.org member customers happy: offer a Fair Trade certified line of arrangements, using 100% Fair Trade certified flowers; publish a semi-annual sourcing report; and publish a code of conduct for suppliers, which includes prohibitions against forced or child labor and guarantees safe conditions for workers. But their responsible decision won't just help them -- it will lift up the whole cut flower industry.

"1-800-Flowers is one of the most widely recognized and fastest growing floral retailers in the country." says Kaszton. " If they were to offer fair trade options, they'd be setting an example on ethical sourcing, and all other companies would feel pressured to follow suit."

1-800-Flowers stands at a crossroads of decision today. Will they respond to the desires of tens of thousands of customers, become an ethical leader in their industry, and improve the lives of the people who make their company possible? Or will they ignore this critical issue and continue to be D- students?

Photo credit: hello-julie