New Protest Letter to Dole

Banana unions continue to support an international campaign against Chiquita’s chief rival, Dole. In July, USLEAP helped organize U.S.support for another international sign-on letter to Dole that was sent in early August citing specific violations in Peru, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Ecuador.

U.S. signers included the Campaign for Labor Rights, the Chicago Religious Leadership Network, Food & Water Watch, Global Exchange, the International Labor Rights Forum, NISGUA (Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala), STITCH, Sweatshop Watch, the United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries, the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), the United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society, and USLEAP.

Also signing the letter to Dole were groups and unions in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, and the U.K.

Dole responded to the letter in mid-August, essentially dismissing all reports of wrong-doing. COLSIBA is expected to provide a rebuttal by early October.

A campaign was launched in against Dole in 2006 by COLSIBA, the IUF, EUORBAN, USLEAP and others demanding that Dole respect worker rights. Dole has long been considered public enemy number one by the banana unions. Copies of the primary campaign document, Dole, Behind the Smokescreen, are available upon request from USLEAP (for $5 to cover postage and
handling). The document is also available on the USLEAP website.