UCLA expels Taco Bell over labor issue.

A group of UCLA students, unhappy with the labor practices of a supplier to Yum Brands Inc.'s Taco Bell unit, has prevailed in convincing the Associated Students of UCLA, operator of the Student Union, to terminate the restaurant chain's decade-long tenure. Its last day was Oct. 29.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, which represents Florida tomato pickers, has been urging Taco Bell boycotts nationwide, and its outreach to universities has led to the elimination of several contracts. The group alleges that workers are paid sub-poverty wages, are denied the right to organize and don't receive overtime pay or benefits.

"After a year-long debate, the majority of the board felt Taco Bell could influence their buying cooperative to help make changes in the condition of the Florida tomato pickers," said Bob Williams, interim executive director of the ASUCLA, noting that the board has heard arguments from Irvine-based Taco Bell and the CIW. "Because of the impasse between Taco Bell and CIW, we chose not to renew the contract."

In a statement, a Taco Bell spokeswoman said the company was unfairly targeted.

"Taco Bell is the smallest tomato purchaser in Florida of all our national competitors, and we are not in a position to single-handedly influence the grower's decisions or reform the state's farm labor issues," the statement said.

Taco Bell's 1,000 daily customers trailed only Panda Express among the single-food concepts on campus, Williams said.

UCLA last week opened a Shorty's Subs in the former Taco Bell location and has developed another taco concept called Mucho Taco.

Some petitions are circulating to reinstate Taco Bell, but Williams said it won't be easy. "To be undone, the process would have to be the same as it was to close it."