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Paper Source, Fulfill Your Agreement With Your Workers
The San Lucas Workers Center, day laborers and community allies need your support again. Starting on April 12 at Noon CST, please fax a letter of support for day laborers to Paper Source. The company has reneged on its agreement with the community to end its contract with an abusive day labor agency that violates the new Day Labor Services Act of Illinois.
Support Day Labor Agency Workers
Tell Paper Source:
Ron's Is Unfair. Fulfill Your Agreement With Workers!
Paper Source continues to use 'Renegade' Ron's Staffing to supply day laborers to work as 'perma-temps' at their warehouse in Chicago. San Lucas Workers Center is fighting for Paper Source to fire Ron's Staffing and switch these temps to a Code of Conduct-compliant agency where they will receive better pay and working conditions.
Paper Source, a stationary empire, has a chain of 18 stores across the country and its profit has quadrupled in the last few years and had over $7 million in sales last year.
We ask you to support the workers now and send a fax to Jim York and Sue Lindstrom of Paper Source.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Fulfill Your Agreement to Stop Contracting Ron's
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I am a concerned consumer. I disagree with Paper Source's practice of hiring day labor workers through an abusive agency. I am disappointed that you continue to use Ron's Staffing. You agreed to stop contracting with Ron's at the November meeting with San Lucas. I thought you were committed to improving the economic and working conditions of your temporary employees.
I understand that you are now contracting with a Community Code of Conduct agency, so why do you continue your relationship with Ron's, a dishonest agency that has had 6,345 labor violations and is currently in violation of the new Day Labor Services Act.
You say that you want workers to have a choice through which agency they work. As long as the checks continue to be controlled by Ron's, workers do not have a real choice. They have reported an atmosphere of intimidation regarding this "choice." Workers want basic rights, not fear of retaliation. Further, the illegal firing of two of the workers has only served to further the climate of intimidation. We are outraged at this termination as it appears to be a chilling attempt to "gag" day laborers who are organizing to improve the quality of their work and lives. The only real choice here is not to contract with abusive day labor agencies.
San Lucas Workers Center and the Area Contractors Delegation have been operating in good faith with you. Please respect the spirit of the original agreement to end your contracting with Ron's. Will you honor the agreement you have with the community?
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
April 12, 2006
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Paper Source has reneged on its agreement with the community to end its contract with an abusive day labor agency that is in violation of the new Day Labor Services Act of Illinois.
Workers and their allies want companies to be aware of a new "Day Labor Services Act" law, effective as of January 1, 2006, and what it means for workers and companies. Short paychecks, illegal transportation charges, retaliation for organizing or complaining, discrimination, no job security, no opportunity to go from temp to permanent jobs and abusive supervisors are some of the challenges these workers face daily.
"Companies need to take responsibility for the abuses of the day labor agency," said Javier Franco, a day laborer and leader of San Lucas Workers Center. "We need companies that carry products based on our labor to help us obtain fair treatment. We work hard for these companies, we deserve to work for an agency that will treat us with respect and follow the law."
"I have been here more than 2 years, I work hard for Paper Source. I want to work through a good agency that will pay us better and treat us with respect," Eblin, Ron's Temp Worker at Paper Source.
Eblin is one of 30 immigrant women that work as day laborers through Ron's Staffing at Paper Source. She worked there on regular assignment for one year, where she gained good skills and received a small wage increase. Then she had a baby. When she returned, she had to start at the bottom again for less money. Now she is suffering intimidation for organizing her co-workers.
Paper Source charges $8 for one piece of Paper but can't pay their Temps $8 an Hour!!!
San Lucas Workers Center fights sweatshop abuses by Chicago day labor agencies and their client companies. We are a bi-lingual, multi-racial committee of immigrant and U.S.-born workers, directly affected by the issues, who are organizing to end sweatshop abuses by Chicago day labor agencies; win regular, family-supporting work; and generate self-determination for day laborers through worker-led collective action.
San Lucas Workers Center
info: Ari Glazer 773 573-6633
ari@sanlucasworkers.com
www.sanlucasworkers.org
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