Unions Organize Cyber-Protest Against Bridgestone/Firestone

07/12/96

Two years ago on July 12, the Japanese-owned multi-national corporation Bridgestone/Firestone illegally replaced 2,300 workers at five U.S. Bridgestone plants. Through the National Labor Relations Board, the US government issued a complaint against the company, accusing it of multiple violations of US labor law and seeking millions of dollars of back pay owed to the workers. Bridgestone/Firestone refuses to comply. It has also cold-shouldered repeated attempts by US Labor Secretary Robert Reich to work out a settlement to the dispute.

In response to this situation and in commemoration of the second anniversary of the company's action, the ICEM and the USWA unions have mounted a protest against the company that extends into cyberspace. The unions are asking consumers to "black-flag" Bridgestone. In motor racing, a black flag signals disqualification for breaking the rules, in the struggle against Bridgestone/Firestone the flag symbolizes the consumer boycott of Bridgestone/Firestone products and consumer disapproval of the corporation's behavior.

The union's website lists e-mail addresses for company officials at Bridgestone/Firestone, asks consumers to send them a note, and provides a picture of the black flag for consumers to attach to their e-mail. The union hopes that consumers will respond strongly and voice their disapproval of the company's violations of U.S. national labor law. More information, a list of Bridgestone/Firestone related websites and e-mail addresses, and directions on how to use your computer to black-flag Bridgestone/Firestone across the internet is available on the ICEM website (http://www.icem.org/).

The protest against Bridgestone/Firestone is not solely virtual, but also has a physical international component to it. The ICEM and USWA have organized an international "day of shame," that will focus on how the company has mistreated its American workers. Workers and their unions throughout the world will participate in demonstrations and protests at Bridgestone plants, and replaced U.S. workers are speaking to workers in many places around the globe. Actions have been coordinated in the U.S.A, Canada, Japan, Turkey, and Aregentina and other parts of Latin America.

Additionally, the UAW has arranged an unusual deal with GM. The corporation agreed that Saturn customers would be allowed to replace the Bridgestone/Firestone tires that came with their car for free. The move issues from consultative arrangements at Saturn, where the UAW and the company make joint decisions on "sourcing" and purchasing. In fact, the whole supply contract between Saturn and Bridgestone could be at risk unless the tire multinational quickly reaches a settlement with the USWA. "When current commitments expire, those issues will be scrutinized before a new contract is awarded," confirmed UAW Local 1853 Financial Secretary John Michaud in a letter to Bridgestone-Firestone Divisional President Arthur W. Stuart.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel