Russell Corporation, the
apparel manufacturer owned by Berkshire Hathaway Corp., the Nebraska-based
investment firm headed by Warren Buffett – world’s wealthiest man,– has been
linked to some of the most egregious violations of workers rights seen in Central America in recent years.
Last year, Russell
Corporation fired huge numbers of workers at its apparel plants in Choloma, Honduras– in all; the company fired nearly 150 workers in retaliation for exercising
the basic right to join a union. In
response to pressure from United Students Against Sweatshops and activists from
universities and colleges whose logo apparel Russell produces, the company
agreed to give workers their jobs back, offer them back pay, and to recognize a
union at its Jerzees de Honduras plant.
This victory for workers is under attack!!
In October, negotiations
between Russell and the workers broke down -- in part, because the company’s best
offer for a wage increase was only a four cent per day wage increase
over minimum wage (minimum wage for a Honduran worker is $139 a month.) Only
days later, Russell, claiming a lack of orders, announced that it would close
the plant for good in March of 2009. An outside investigation found, however,
that anti-union retaliation played a significant role in Russell’s decision.
Workers identified over 100 instances where managers, including Russell’s Central America labor relations director, said that the
plant would close because of workers’ decision to form a union. In response, U.S. universities are considering terminating their license agreements with Russell
altogether.
Supporters of workers
rights are calling on Russell and Berkshire Hathaway to reverse the decision to
close this plant. If allowed to stand,
the decision would not only unlawfully deprive 1,800 workers of their jobs; it
would also send an chilling message to workers
in Honduras and everywhere in Central America that the cost of standing up for one’s rights is the loss of one’s job.
We know that you have a ton of errands and activities to do this time of year.
Please take just a few minutes to take action. It will mean a world of
difference for hundreds of workers.
Send a message to Russell Corporation and Berkshire Hathaway that
justice requires the reversal of Russell’s decision to close Jerzees de
Honduras.
