Actions | Fair Trade

Tell the NFL & Firestone to Stop Foul Play in Liberia!

**PLEASE NOTE: IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS ACTION, YOU MUST GO TO THIS WEBSITE AND COMPLETE THE ONLINE FORM!**

CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION!

Since 1926, Bridgestone Firestone has operated the world's largest rubber plantation in Harbel, Liberia. Workers on the plantation have long faced incredibly poor living and working conditions. Firestone rubber tappers live in crowded shacks without running water, electricity or indoor latrines and are required to meet an unreasonably high production quota in order to receive their meager pay.

After a long struggle, workers finally held the first free and fair union election and signed their first contract negotiated by a democratically elected and independent union leadership in August 2008. The agreement was a major step forward in the long struggle of workers to protect their rights. However, since the time the agreement was signed, Firestone management has failed to implement many of the important improvements in the new contract.

For example, the new contract reduced the size of the production quota, but many workers throughout the plantation report that they are still being forced to produce at the old quota level which means they must hire subcontractors or use the labor of their family members in order to finish their work and be paid. Firestone has also not fully implemented health and safety improvements in the new contract and has not provided transportation for all of the children on the plantation to access schools as the contract says they should.

**CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS PLEDGE!**

For more information about the Stop Firestone campaign, please visit www.StopFirestone.org

For more information about the struggle of workers on the Firestone plantation to form a democratic and independent union, check out this video.

For more information about Bridgestone Firestone's marketing partnership with the NFL, please click here.

This is an ongoing pledge that should be fulfilled as often as possible between Jan 29, 2009 and Jan 31, 2010.

Report close
You must be signed in to report content.

Comments, Suggestions and Stories

Ann Cawley Saint Joseph, MO @ 12:29AM PT Jun 29

Thank you for taking action to support workers on Bridgestone Firestone's rubber plantation in Liberia!

Your voice will help to bring justice to these workers.

Sending your message to:

NameDelivery MethodStatusMr. Mark Emkes, CEO of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.Email Sent Mr. Roger Goodell, NFLEmail Sent

CC'ing your message to:

NameDelivery MethodStatusDan Adomitis, President of Firestone Natural Rubber Coemail Sent Mr. Peter Murray, NFLemail Sent
Edwin Bonilla Manassas, VA @ 04:23PM PT Feb 02

These working conditions sound of those similar to the early 1900s in which workers had no voice and lived in a cube of misery. Furthermore, an American corporation perpetuating these conditions is a further blow to this injustice. In addition, many African countries look forward to progress in a dignified way and to help them, these demanded changes must come immediately.
Tim Newman Washington, DC @ 10:12AM PT Jan 29

Thank you all for supporting this campaign -- please spread the word!

I also wanted to remind everyone that in order to participate in this action, you need to go to this website: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/NFL09 and fill out your information.

Thanks again and feel free to send me a message if you need more information!
Tim Newman Washington, DC @ 07:21AM PT Jan 29

Initiated this Pledge!