I think it was important to let the people know about the
high rate of injury that came from working on a deboning processing line. People need to know about how people get
injured inside of poultry processing plants. They don’t get the proper care from doctors on the company panel.

I enjoyed speaking to the college students and letting them
know what carpel tunnel syndrome is. I
liked explaining to the students what a deboning line was and how people got
injured working in deboning.

Striking Workers at Liberian Rubber Plantation Clash with Police

International Herald Tribune

April 27, 2007

HARBEL, Liberia:
Striking workers at the Firestone Rubber plantation in the West African nation
of Liberia clashed with police Friday, and at least six people were wounded, officials
said.

We are organizations that hear the stories of people who have experienced unacceptable working conditions, often for the sake of consumers having access to cheap, convenient products precisely when they want them. The incredible rise of just a few corporations which allows for unchecked market power has continued a vicious cycle of exploitation. ILRF, STITCH, SweatFree Communities and USLEAP refuse to accept the status quo as the way things have to be. On the contrary, we are working harder than ever to develop strategic partnerships with NGOs and trade unions around the world so that workers can continue to organize and stand up for themselves in the face of increasing pressure to work longer hours for less money.

This latest news confirms the claims that have been made by members of the Stop Firestone Coalition both in Liberia and the US.  Firestone has spread misinformation about their environmental record, but you can read the Stop Firestone Coalition's response to Firestone here.  You can also send a protest e-mail here.

To see how Firestone's pollution effects Liberians directly, check out this photo essay by Michael Zumstein.