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Petition to hold Wal-Mart accountable for sweatshops in the Philippines
Wal-Mart Factory Workers on Strike(one month later)!
On September 25, 2006, the United Workers of Chong Won in the Philippines declared a strike demanding that factory management immediately begin to negotiate with their trade union. The management of garment factory Chong Won Fashion Inc. has violated workers’ freedom of association, forced workers to take on 24 hour shifts, and does not allow workers to drink water or go to the bathroom during work hours. As the primary buyer from the factory, Wal-Mart is responsible for protecting the human rights of workers at Chong Won. Go to ILRFs website for more background info.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Chong Won workers want justice!
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
After more than a month on strike, there will be a meeting in the Philippines to bring together all parties on Friday November 3rd. Your support is needed to show Wal-Mart that you continue to follow the Chong Won situation and assume that they will use their influence to make sure the meeting on Friday is productive and grants justice to the Chong Won workers who have been denied basic freedom of association rights for so long.
We, the undersigned, call on Wal-Mart to take the following actions in light of this situation:
* Stop the harassment of the workers on the picketline and the dismantling of the make-shift shelter and allow the strikers access to food and water;
* Sign a "neutrality agreement" to stop all harassment, discrimination, violence, unjust firings, and possible blacklisting against union members;
* Rescind the termination letters and agree to reinstate Monina Eugenio and Sellwyn Simpan, 2 of the union leaders that were unjustly fired at Chong Won;
* Demand that there be no black listing of workersand the nullification of dismissal letters delivered to over 60 strikers;
* Facilitate dialogue between the supplier factory and the union leading to good-faith negotiations for a first collective bargaining agreement;
* Send a clear message to management that Wal-Mart will not tolerate any further harassment, intimidation, or discrimination against workers because of their union membership or activities;
* Indicate to management that Wal-Mart will not tolerate any shifting or subcontracting of orders from Chong Won to other factories; and
* Share and discuss Wal-Mart's factory audit findings with the management, other buyers, Worker's Assistance Center, and United Workers of Chong Won; develop a corrective action plan; and work with other buyers, the supplier, and stakeholders to implement the plan.
Signed by:
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