Stop Firestone's use of child labor

Since 1926, Bridgestone Firestone has operated a rubber plantation in Liberia where workers are expected to meet an unreasonably high daily production quota or their low wages are halved. As a result, workers have to bring their children to work. This situation is against international laws including ILO Conventions, U.S. and Liberian labor law.

Your letter to Firestone Natural Rubber Company President Dan Adomitis will help end Firestone's child labor, exploitation, and environmental destruction in Liberia.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Stop Exploiting Liberia

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am very concerned about the situation facing workers and their families on Firestone's rubber plantation in Liberia.

I join US and Liberian-based organizations in calling for your company to:

1) Respect worker's rights, stop child labor and switch from a quota-based pay system to an hourly living wage;

2) Improve the quality of living and working conditions;

3) Stop polluting the environment and redress past damage;

4) Stop the secrecy and fully disclose all of your agreements in Liberia.

Thank you for your time. I will not rest until all of the demands are met.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 21, 2006

Background Information

STOP FIRESTONE'S EXPLOITATION AND CRUELTY

The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company has operated the world’s largest rubber plantation in the world in Harbel, Liberia for over 80 years. Firestone signed a concession agreement with the government of Liberia to lease over one million acres of land in 1926 for 6 cents per acre for a period of 99 years. In 2005, Firestone signed a new 37-year agreement with a transitional government in Liberia to lease the land for 50 cents per acre.

Firestone workers must tap trees in order to extract the latex necessary for making rubber tires. The rubber tappers must meet a daily production quota or their already low wages will be halved. By Firestone Natural Rubber Company CEO Dan Adomitis’ own admission on CNN, it would take over 21 hours to meet the quota. As a result, tappers are forced to bring their children and wives to work. Children are forced to carry two 70 pound buckets of rubber on their shoulders for miles. In addition, tappers and their children must apply toxic pesticides without protection.

Firestone workers live in cramped shacks which have not been renovated since the 1920s and lack electricity, running water and indoor latrines. Meanwhile, Firestone managers have huge houses with all modern conveniences and even golf courses. Educational and health facilities are understaffed and lacking resources and are often located much too far from housing units for workers and their families to access. Additionally, Firestone uses the labor of a large number of subcontractors who are not offered benefits. Historically, Firestone has negotiated with a union that is not democratic or independent from the management. In July 2007, the first free and fair union elections were held in the plantation’s history and Firestone is currently negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the first democratically elected union leadership.

Furthermore, as the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia recently confirmed, Firestone dumps toxic chemicals into local rivers, like the Farmington River, used by the community for bathing and fishing. The pollution has caused serious health problems for communities surrounding the plantation and has killed off some forms of river life. Please visit the Stop Firestone website for more information (www.stopfirestone.org).