On April 24, 2007, thousands of workers on Firestone's rubber plantation in Liberia went on strike to protest the company's efforts to interfere with new union elections scheduled for late May.  On Friday, April 27, 2007, police forces were called in to quell the strikers.  The police chased workers, fired tear gas indiscriminately into crowded family settlements, arrested 13 workers and beat workers with batons, leaving six severely injured.  For more information on the attack on workers, check out the Associated Press article here.

In the past, Firestone has negotiated with a union that was not democratic and independent from company management.  As a result, the Ministry of Labor of Liberia froze that unions' assets and called for new union elections in May 2007.  These elections could be an historic opportunity for workers to finally have a truly representative voice.  However, Firestone continues to try to interfere with the workers' wishes, which is why they need to hear from you TODAY!

Firestone's abuses of workers rights recently earned them a Public Eye Award for Worst Global Corporation!  For more information check out the press release here.  For more information about the Stop Firestone campaign, check out the website www.stopfirestone.org and the YouTube channel!

You can also read an article about Liberia and Firestone by famed British writer Zadie Smith here.  The Stop Firestone was also recently covered in an article and podcast on Pambazuka News!