The letter to Ambassador Sheinwald cites “widespread and egregious violations” on tobacco farms in North Carolina, which supplies the largest share of the U.S.-grown crop. These include:
“. . . tobacco farm workers in North Carolina are exposed to pesticides and nicotine poisoning in the fields—while they endure squalid farm labor housing. There is no protection for these workers if they complain or are fired for seeking union representation to help them improve their working and living conditions. . .
“We believe you will agree that these workers’ desperate situation is something that no civilized society can tolerate, and we hope that you will use your good offices to urge BAT to take a leadership role in safeguarding human rights by insisting that the companies and suppliers they do business with must abide by the same code of corporate social responsibility they established for their own company.”
The Embassy actions set the stage for BAT's shareholders meeting on April 28, 2011, in London where FLOC President Baldemar Velasquez presented the major findings of a forthcoming human rights assessment detailing the abuses of workers in the U.S. tobacco supply chain and will insist that BAT take immediate steps to ensure that all of the companies in its supply chain respect and follow the standards spelled out in the company’s corporate code of conduct. (Report and pictures coming soon)
In Washington, DC, (see pictures above) the delegation delivering the letter was led by Joslyn Williams and Fred Mason, who are presidents, respectively, of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO, and the Maryland State and D.C., AFL-CIO, Hector Sanchez, executive director of LCLAA, Mary Kay Henry, President of SEIU, and Clayola Brown, President of APRI. Outside the Embassy union and LCLAA members rallied in support of U.S. tobacco farm workers.
Local leaders also delivered copies of the letter, along with LCLAA’s recent report, "Latino Workers in the United States," to the British consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco.
In New York City, about 50 workers from the Laborers' International Union Local 79 joined the Laborers' Business Manager, John Delgado, in presenting the letter to Simon Collingwood, Consul, Deputy Director of UKTI USA. (left and below)
(Photo above left) In Denver, local labor leaders presented a letter to Consul General Kevin Lynch.
(Left to right) Artemio Archieta IBEW 111, Stan Groenke APU 1001, Russell Bannan NALC, Solomon Juarez LCLAA chapter president and CWA 7777, Consul Kevin Lynch, Chris Campbell ATU 1001, Mathew McAulity NLCA
(Left) Allies at the British Embassy in Atlanta, organized by Kwame Ingram, Political Coordinator of the Atlanta-North GA Labor Council
(Right) Demonstration at the British Embassy in Boston, organized by the Greater Boston Labor Council and Massachusetts Jobs with Justice.
(Left) Allies at British Embassy in Houston. Left to right, Jesse Fuentes, President of LCLAA, CWA, Local 6222, Andy Price, Deputy Consul General, Richard Shaw, Secretary-Treasurer, Harris County AFL-CIO Council, AFSCME, Local 1550, Dora Cervantes, LCLAA, IAM, Lodge 2198.
Demonstration at British Embassy in LA: Margarita Mota, NFWM, Marti Shrank, OCIC, Carissa Baldwin, Peace and Justice Director, All Saints, Pasadena, Barbara Johnson, OCIC, Suzanne Darweesh, Co-Chair, OCIC, Francisco Garcia, All Saints, Pasadena, Giev Kashkooli, 3rd Vice President, UFW, Rabbi Stephen Jacobs, Antonio Jones, LA County Fed, Alicia Ramos, NFWM LIVE Supporter, Lucy Boutte, NFWM, Glen Arnodo, LA County Fed
Rigo Lozano of Miami Lakes United Methodist Church deliving the letter to Consul-General Kevin McGurgan. John Ocampo, a representative of the restaurant workers was also part of the delegation.