200k In 2010 for Farmworker Organizing
A message from Baldemar Velasquez, President of FLOC:
Once again FLOC is challenging another global agricultural giant in our campaign to organize THOUSANDS of tobacco workers who cut tobacco for the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. I’m asking for your help. The great majority of the workers suffer inhumane conditions, many in unregulated labor camps, sub-minimum wages, indentured servitude, corrupt crew leaders and serious daily health risks such as nicotine poisoning and heat stroke.
We have written letters to Reynolds CEO, Susan Ivey, pastors have intervened on our behalf and attempted to bring attention to this exploitation, we have pursued the attention of other officers only now to be accused of harassment. On June 17th of this year, after a national campaign, we secured the resignation of Reynolds Board member Betsy Atkins. Ms. Atkins (a venture capitalist) sat on the board of Chico’s FAS Inc. and we simply asked her to choose between Chico’s code of conduct to its suppliers and that of Reynolds, she did the right thing.
On June 25th, we launched what might be the biggest endeavor of the Campaign, moving on Reynolds’ leading lender, financial giant JP Morgan Chase. It is in this effort that I write for your support. Since Reynolds corporate policy is “not to talk to FLOC” perhaps they will listen to their largest financial partner. I am asking you to help by pledging to change banks if you have an account with Chase or close credit card accounts if you have one of their cards. We are targeting this action to commence on September 7th. I know that this might be an inconvenience, but solidarity IS the politics of inconvenience. A great measure of love is when one makes a sacrificial offer for others. You can also help recruit new supporters if you happen to know others, church groups and community organizations who might have accounts with Chase.
I am also asking you for a financial contribution. Your contributions will help put organizers on the ground and fuel their cars that comb the hundreds of labor camps throughout the tobacco belt in the South.
Can you help us? Can you help find others who will support this movement? If you do not have Chase accounts, will you donate to enable us to organize and secure pledges throughout the country? Click here for more information, or click here to donate. Thank you for your continued support and solidarity.
Hasta la Victoria!