SARA LEE VICTORY!

In response to a four year joint Enlace-SEDEPAC campaign, Sara Lee, one of the global leaders of the corporate movement for “a union free environment”, has agreed to employer neutrality, freedom of association and freedom from harassment for the workers organizing their own independent union in Coahuila, Mexico.  The policy shift by Sara Lee is believed to be the first labor neutrality commitment by a transnational corporation operating maquiladora factories in Mexico.

In a letter dated October 20, 2004, Sara Lee’s Deputy General Counsel, R. Henry Kleeman, stated in part,
“Our diverse workforce at Monclova #1 (Frontera) included employees who supported a number of different labor organizations and non-governmental organizations.  All of these former employees at Monclova #1 are welcome to apply for employment at Monclova #2 (Monclova). Consistent with our Global Business Standards, employees at Monclova #2 may freely choose to belong, or not to belong, to a union of their choice and engage in lawful activities on behalf of that union without fear of retaliation.  Sara Lee will not discriminate in hiring, firing or other personnel decisions against any job applicant or employee based on union affiliation or other lawful exercises of associational rights.  All Sara Lee employees, including managers and supervisors, have a duty to abide by these policies, and as our Global Business Standards make clear, failure to comply with these principles will result in appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination.”

The letter was written to the Worker Rights Consortium, which has served as one of a few key intermediaries in communications with Sara Lee. In addition to the Workers Rights Consortium, Enlace would like to thank all those who have given much needed support to this campaign. Click HERE for a partial list of supporters.

Much Remains to be Done
After worldwide attention was drawn to Sara Lee’s abusive treatment of the workers
at its plant in Frontera, Coahuila, Sara Lee closed the plant.  In response to escalating outcries for justice, Sara Lee agreed to hire the 10 publicly known Frontera worker leaders at its nearby Monclova plant, to re-employ 200 Frontera workers by seniority at the Monclova plant, and to pay all the Frontera workers a just severance.  While this is an important break- through for the workers, this agreement has not been fully implemented.

Stay Tuned for Further Developments
Discussions are continuing regarding the medical needs of several hundred women injured by the harsh working conditions in the Frontera plant.