AMERICAN LABOUR:

BAILOUTS FOR UNION BUSTERS:

The following request for solidarity is from the Jobs With Justice network, and it's about the use to which some of the USA's "bailout money" is being put. Molly has mentioned the Oak Harbor Freight Lines before on this blog, and pressure continues to be put on them to treat their workers fairly.

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Tell KeyBank: Stop Using Bailout Money to Finance Anti-Worker Company:‏
KeyBank: Stop Using Taxpayer Bailout Money to Finance Oak Harbor's Workers Rights Violations!

KeyBank was approved for $2.5 billion as part of the national bailout. But instead of using the money to give relief to those hardest hit in the current economy, Key Bank is using their bailout money to increase corporate profits by buying other banks and underwriting Oak Harbor Freight Lines, a company that has cancelled its retirees health care and violated US and international labor laws affecting hundreds of striking Teamsters in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Last week, Jobs with Justice Coalitions in Portland and Seattle protested at KeyBank branches as part of the People's Bailout National Week of Action. More actions are planned this week in six cities throughout the country. Tell KeyBank: We won't back down until we see justice! You can take action on this alert via the web at:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/keybank/wukd7sd9r7b73xi8?

Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/keybank/forward/wukd7sd9r7b73xi8?

We encourage you to take action by January 15, 2009

KeyBank: Stop using taxpayer bailout money to finance Oak Harbor's workers rights violations! INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:

If you have access to a web browser, you can take action on this alert by going to the following URL:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/keybank/wukd7sd9r7b73xi8?

Your letter will be addressed and sent to:

Henry Meyer

----THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT IN YOUR NAME----

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

I am extremely concerned about KeyBank's ongoing financial support of Oak Harbor Freight Lines, a rogue company that has broken US labor law and violated international labor standards during a three month strike in the Northwest.

An investigation by the International Labor Rights Forum found that Oak Harbor has violated International Labor standards by, among other actions, discriminating against minorities and women in its hiring practices, pursuing a premeditated plan to permanently replace employees engaged in a lawful strike, employing a labor contractor that has behaved in a grossly unethical manner toward replacement workers it has provided to Oak Harbor, and by inflicting significant hardship on retired employees through the termination of health insurance contributions.

As a recipient of taxpayer money, KeyBank should act responsibly by extending relief to those most in need, every day customers, not extending lines of credit to companies like Oak Harbor.

As a taxpayer, I urge you not to finance Oak Harbor's worker abuses.

----END OF LETTER TO BE SENT----

cc: Christopher Ohmacht

Karen Haefling

Margot Copeland

Paul Harris

AMERICAN LABOUR:

SOLIDARITY WITH OAK HARBOR TRUCKERS:

The following from the United Students Against Sweatshops seems to be for students only (see the letter below). If you are one of those gatherers in the vineyards of knowledge help out if you can, and think of the truckers when you sip your next cup of java.

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Tell Concordia Coffee: Too Cold:
Concordia Coffee supplies coffee and espresso machines to numerous major universities including Harvard, Princeton, Purdue, the University of California, and Stanford. They pride themselves in providing the machines and supplies that make warm specialty coffees for college students.

But when the striking truck drivers from Oak Harbor, who carry their merchandise, asked them for support they threw them out in the cold. Oak Harbor truck drivers have been out in the cold for over two months and have had their healthcare benefits cut along with having to deal with intimidation and strike-breaking from the company.

Tell Concordia Coffee: You're coffee company is too cold for college students! Tell me more

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THE LETTER:

Please go to THIS LINK to send the following message to the management of Oak Harbor.

Subject: Concordia Coffee: Too Cold!
Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],
I am writing as a college student to express concern over Oak Harbor truck drivers, who carry Concordia Coffee merchandise through the northwest.

On Monday September 22, 2008 Oak Harbor Freight Lines workers in Oregon, Washington and Idaho were forced to strike in protest of Oak Harbor's violations of America's labor laws, as well as hostile efforts by company representatives to intimidate workers.Rather than correcting these violations by negotiating with its employees in good faith, Oak Harbor's owners have hired a notorious strike breaking consulting firm, imported teams of professional strikebreakers and attempted to permanently replace workers in an effort to coerce and scare loyal long-time employees.

A report done by the International Labor Rights Forum found substantial evidence indicating that Oak Harbor has violated International Labor standards by, among other actions, discriminating against minorities and women in its hiring practices, pursuing a premeditated plan to permanently replace employees engaged in a lawful strike, employing a labor contractor that has behaved in a grossly unethical manner toward replacement workers it has provided to Oak Harbor, and by inflicting significant hardship on retired employees through the termination of health insurance contributions.

Several socially responsible companies, including Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) and Urban Outfitters, have suspended their relationship with Oak Harbor until the company finds a just and lasting resolution to the ongoing labor dispute.Unfortunately, when Oak Harbor drivers came to Concordia Coffee about the problem, they were told that Concordia Coffee didn't care.

That's cold.I urgently request that that Concordia Coffee join with other socially responsible companies by letting Oak Harbor know that if it wants to carry Concordia Coffee products, it needs to resolve its labor dispute and treat its employees fairly.
Sincerely,

AMERICAN LABOUR:

SUPPORT WORKERS AT NIKE DISTRIBUTOR:

Very few companies have been so successful in the cotton candy world of selling a name rather than quality than the Nike Corporation. Nike has tried to distance itself from its image of being a sweatshop buyer from shops abroad, but in the USA itself its supply chain leaves much to be desired in terms of fairness to labour. Here's the story of one such instance from the American Rights at Work group, and what you can do to help out the workers affected.

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Nike turns a blind eye:‏
From:
Liz Cattaneo,

American Rights at Work

(action@americanrightsatwork.org )
For mega-retailer Nike, workers' rights are taking a back seat to holiday profits.
This holiday, take a stand for the truckers who help keep Nike running!

When it comes to protecting workers' rights, it's time for Nike to stop talking about it and just do it.

Nike is one of the world's largest retailers – raking in billions in profits – but the truckers who haul all their sneakers to JCPenney say they have faced unfair working conditions including intimidation during contract negotiations and rising healthcare premiums.

Nike won't join other leading retailers in defending these workers, but you can.
Stand up for the drivers who ship for Nike – demand fairness TODAY!

Over 500 employees of Oak Harbor Freight Lines – the company that ships merchandise for Nike and Ralph Lauren to JCPenney – are on strike.

They're taking a stand against on-the-job abuses, including an outrageous proposal to cancel health coverage for retired employees, cut paid sick days and overtime pay for current employees, and reduce pension benefits.

But rather than negotiate in good faith, this shipping company has hired a notorious strike-breaking firm to strong-arm workers into giving up. What's more, the subcontractor reportedly recruited disadvantaged drivers from the south as replacement workers, promising them high wages and stable employment, then fired them when local employees became available.

Nike pretends to be an advocate for workers' rights – working hard to shed its association with sweatshops abroad – but hasn't stood up for these American drivers.
Show Nike that protecting America's workers is the right thing to do this holiday season. Take action today!
Thanks for all that you do.
Sincerely,
Liz Cattaneo

American Rights at Work

http://www.americanrightsatwork.org/

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WHAT YOU CAN DO: Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letter to Nike management.

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THE LETTER:

As an activist who cares about the way a company treats its employees, I wanted to let you know how upset I was to hear how the company that ships Nike's merchandise to JCPenney, Oak Harbor Freight Lines, has been treating its striking workers.

Rather than respond to employee concerns by negotiating in good faith, Oak Harbor has chosen to import teams of professional strikebreakers to coerce and scare loyal long-time employees.




People should be able to work in an atmosphere free of bullying, harassment and fear.




More and more, employers understand the value and importance of fair and respectful labor practices. Other Oak Harbor customers have chosen to respect the rights of these truckers, and I hope you will, too.




I urge you to stand up and ensure Oak Harbor employees get the dignity and respect they deserve, and the fair pay and benefits they've earned for a job well done.

AMERICAN LABOUR:

TELL 'THE GAP' TO STOP BUYING FROM ANTI-UNION SOURCE:

The following is an appeal from the United Students Against Sweatshops.

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Tell the Gap: Don't Harbor Worker Abuses!:
Don't let Gap Inc. support worker and retiree abuses! Oak Harbor Freight Lines workers in Oregon, Washington and Idaho were forced to strike on Sept. 22 in protest of the freight company's violations of U.S. labor laws, as well as hostile efforts by the company to intimidate workers. A day later, Oak Harbor took the outrageous step of cutting off health care benefits to its workers and retirees. Instead of negotiating with striking workers in good faith, Oak Harbor has imported teams of professional strikebreakers to coerce and scare loyal long-time employees. Oak Harbor's biggest freight customer, Gap Inc., has supported the move to replace striking workers and cut off health care benefits to retirees. REI, Urban Outfitters, and other companies have elected to suspend their relationship with Oak Harbor until the company finds a just and lasting resolution to the ongoing labor dispute. Several organizations, including, Sweatfree Communities, the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation, the International Transport Workers' Federation, Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior, and the International Labor Rights Forum have called on Gap Inc. to suspend its relationship with Oak Harbor. Unfortunately, the Gap continues to ignore workers' rights abuses and use Oak Harbor to transport merchandise. Tell the Gap to stop harboring worker abuses! Tell me more

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Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letter to 'The Gap' management. If you find that the recipient is blocking your email copy and paste the letter into your own email and send it that way.

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THE LETTER:

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding one of the companies in GAP's supply chain that transports merchandise: Oak Harbor Freight Lines of Auburn, Washington.

On Monday September 22, 2008 Oak Harbor Freight Lines workers in Oregon, Washington and Idaho were forced to strike in protest of Oak Harbor's violations of America's labor laws, as well as hostile efforts by company representatives to intimidate workers.




Rather than correcting these violations by negotiating with its employees in good faith, Oak Harbor's owners have hired a notorious strike breaking consulting firm, imported teams of professional strikebreakers and attempted to permanently replace workers in an effort to coerce and scare loyal long-time employees. In the last week striking employees have been bumped and hit by vehicles driven by strikebreakers and management, assaulted with flying objects, and verbally abused by company officials.




Even more troubling, Oak Harbor Freight Lines elected to cut off health care benefits to its employees and retirees on Tuesday, September 23, 2008. If Oak Harbor is permitted to abandon its moral obligation to its employees, many Oak Harbor retirees with serious preexisting medical conditions will be left to fend for themselves and their spouses.




Several socially responsible companies, including Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) and Urban Outfitters, have already elected to suspend their relationship with Oak Harbor until the company finds a just and lasting resolution to the ongoing labor dispute. Unfortunately, according to reports from workers, the GAP is continuing to use Oak Harbor to transport merchandise.




Considering these troubling facts, we urgently request that the GAP join with other socially responsible companies by letting Oak Harbor know that it should resolve its labor dispute and treat its employees fairly.