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People & Planet students protest for Honduran workers
Reclaim Procurement is continuing the campaign launched by People & Planet last year in response to reports of worker repression at a Honduran factory where trade unionists face death threats, targeted dismissal and the eventual closure of their factory.
Serious workers’ rights abuses have been reported at a Russell Corporation factory in Honduras. Russell Corporation, a Fruit of the Loom subsidiary, have announced the closure of a Honduras manufacturing facility in response to workers attempts to exercise their rights to freedom of association and to form a union.
These are the findings of an report published by the US based Workers Rights Consortium.
The facility has already axed 300 workers and machinery is starting to be removed as part of the closure. If the facility is to be left to close a total of 1,800 jobs will be lost. Jerzees de Honduras has been designated by Russell Corporation as a manufacturing site for university logo apparel and is directly owned and operated by Russell Corporation, a subsidiary of Fruit of the Loom.
See the letter from Jerzees de Honduras workers to Fruit of the Loom:
First, it is important for you and all of the executives to understand that Russell’s action in closing our plant because we formed a union has caused, and is continuing to cause us, the workers of Jerzees de Honduras, enormous harm. As a result of this decision — an illegal decision — 1,800 families are losing their livelihoods and their ability to feed their children. Among them are single mothers who are being condemned to live in misery. Many will go hungry because of this unethical and inhumane decision. How does a single mother tell her child that she can no longer go to school because her employer has taken away her job?
Previous investigations have found Russell Corporation guilty of other union busting activities. In September 2007 independent monitors found Russell Corporation had sacked 145 founding union member workers in an attempt to crush workers attempts to organise and bring about an improvement in work conditions.
Fruit of the Loom products are bought by many schools, colleges and universities in the UK. We must not let our Education Institutions fund these appalling human rights abuses.
Take action
Workers at the Jerzees de Honduras factory have called for schools, colleges and universities to boycott Russell Corporation and Fruit of the Loom products. In support with the workers of Jerzees de Honduras the People and Planet Reclaim Procurement campaign is appealing for Universities, Colleges and School to:
Lobby decision makers to boycott all Fruit of the Loom and Russell Corporation merchandise.
Build student support for the boycott
Gather student and staff signatories in support of the Jerzees de Honduras workers of the boycott
Pass the sweat-free student union motion or policy; guaranteeing all merchandise is sweat-free. By passing a motion/policy you are guaranteeing that your university, college and school will no longer fund workers rights abuses
View the demands of the boycott of Fruit of the Loom and Russell
Already in the US 100 universities have cut ties with the Russell Corporation, causing $millions to be lost in supply contracts.
Will you be pushing your University, College or School to boycott fruit of the loom? Keep us up-to-date with your intent and actions by sending updates and pictures to Jim. Please also get in touch if you need any help planning actions.
People & Planet activist drops banner outside Fruit of the Loom headquarters
Resources
Further Reading
For more Jerzees de Honduras case information and updates: Workers Rights Consortium
Campaign progress
On the 3rd March students from Birmingham, Aston, Warwick, Aberwyth and Coventry held an demonstration at Fruit of the Looms European headquarters in Telford (nr Birmingham). P&P activists performed an “die-in” in front of the firms offices as an letter from the Jerzees de Honduras workers was read. Students then proceeded to hand in an letter to the management of Fruit of the Loom. Watch the video of the action
John McDonnall MP has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM 833) in support of Honduran union rights struggle. On the last count the EDM had 31 signatures.
On the 10th August students dropped a banner at the company’s UK headquarters near Edinburgh as part of an international day of action to demonstrate solidarity with the Trade Union workers negotiating with the clothing giant. Find out more.
Eight universities in the UK have now committed to passing student union motions on a boycott. This number is rising every day and pushing the total number of university boycotts internationally well over 100. Keep an eye on the news pages for updates.
