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Tell Kohl's to Live Up to Its Code of Ethics
Workers employed by Quebecor World-who print newspaper inserts for Kohl's department stores-are facing threats, harassment and intimidation from their employer because they're joining together for a voice on the job with a union. In its "Code of Ethics," Kohl's department store says it requires suppliers like Quebecor to honor workers' right to free association. That sounds great . . .if only it were true.
Tell Kohl's to live up to its ethical code and insist that Quebecor respect workers' rights.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Tell Quebecor to Respect Kohl's Code of Ethics
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I understand Kohl's has a code of ethics, which requires your suppliers to respect workers' freedom to form unions. I am concerned that Kohl's is using Quebecor to produce your newspaper inserts. Quebecor has violated your code of ethics by threatening and intimidating its employees who are currently trying to form a union.
The freedom to form unions is a fundamental human right guaranteed by U.S. and international law. Please demand that Quebecor adhere to your company's standards by respecting its employees' freedom to form unions.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
June 11, 2004
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READING THE FINE PRINT
Behind Quebecor World's first-rate image is a secret war on workers.
TIME MAGAZINE, Victoria's Secret catalog, the latest Harry Potter book-all are printed by Quebecor World, the world's largest commercial printer. Quebecor World's 39,000 employees work at 160 plants in 17 countries. The company's 2002 sales topped U.S. $6.3 billion. Every day, millions of people read from the pages produced
at these plants.
Quebecor World calls itself a world-class company, but it treats workers like second-class citizens. At many plants, the company is attacking working conditions by reducing overtime pay, dramatically increasing health insurance costs, increasing workloads and reducing staffing.
Right now, Quebecor World workers across the United States and Canada, with support from workers in 15 other countries and the Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU), are standing together to win better jobs and better lives for their families, but the company is fighting their efforts.
Quebecor World values production over workers' safety.
Since 1998, the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has cited
Quebecor World for violating basic safety and health standards more than 140 times, costing the company U.S. $195,000 in fines. OSHA has charged the company with twice as many violations as R.R. Donnelley & Sons and seven times more than Quad Graphics, the company's closest competitors.
In December 2002, Donald Wilkerson, Sr., lost his life when he was crushed in a shrink-wrap machine that had not been completely turned off before he was sent to repair it.
"If safety had been a primary concern in our plant, I wouldn't be missing two fingers today. No worker's safety should be compromised to save a buck."
Martin Hogan, Quebecor World, Versailles, Ky.
Quebecor World's plants are among the worst polluters in the nation.
Eleven of Quebecor World's plants in the United States are among the dirtiest and worst based on the Environmental Protection Agency's 2000 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), which reports on releases of chemicals to air, water and land. The company is the country's third-highest emitter of toxicants that are linked to physical and mental developmental disorders of young children, and it is the ninth-highest emitter of chemicals that are suspected to harm the brain and nervous system.
"Management pressures people to work too fast to be safe. There's clutter in the aisles, forklifts racing by and oil slicks on the floors."
Dorothy Bills, Quebecor World, Olive Branch, Miss.
Quebecor World workers want equal opportunity and respect.
Workers of color and women at many nonunion Quebecor World plants do not see opportunity for advancement. Workers report that managers and others in higher paying jobs are not representative of the workforce.
"We deserve better treatment. I want to be treated with respect and dignity. Don't hold me back because of the color of my skin."
James Chandler, Quebecor World, Corinth, Miss.
"Promotions are based on who you are, not what you can do. If you do good work, it shouldn't matter whether you are a man or a woman or if you are black or white."
Sharla Davis, Quebecor World, Olive Branch, Miss.
Workers want to form a union, but the company unleashes a campaign of harassment and intimidation.
In factory after factory, Quebecor World launches attacks on workers' rights when they try to win a voice on the job. The company requires workers to meet individually with their supervisors, who interrogate them about the union.
"Management showed us videos of strikers and said we'd have no control over our union. They said we'd lose customers and lose our jobs. After we formed a union, that didn't happen."
Jason Creary, Quebecor World, Dickson, Tenn.
"This is our opportunity to change things. I've never supported a union before, but we just keep getting treated worse. We need voice."
Sherry George, Quebecor World, Corinth, Miss.
"We work hard for Quebecor World, and it's time to be treated with respect. We deserve a say in our jobs."
Richard Finney, Quebecor World,Covington, Tenn.
For more information, please go to www.justiceatquebecor.org.
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