Farmworkers win victory with Burger King

The Florida-based Coalition of Immokalee Workers have emerged victorious in their campaign demanding that Burger King boost wages and improve working conditions for thousands of farmworkers.

As the AP reports, the campaign -- which saw Burger King being chastised in congressional hearings for using underhanded tactics to thwart the workers' efforts -- came to a close today:

The plan ends a bitter dispute between the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Miami-based fast-food company, the nation's second biggest hamburger chain.

Burger King agreed to pay 1.5 cents more per pound of tomatoes it buys from Florida growers, with the understanding that a penny of that will be passed to workers. The rest will go to growers to help cover additional payroll taxes and administrative costs they might incur, to encourage their participation.

The increase roughly doubles the earnings of the workers while they are picking tomatoes, the worker coalition said.