USAS-related people,
Here is a response from Indonesia to the solidarity letters we have sent from the U.S. Again, this factory in Indonesia makes caps for U.S. universities. They are currently struggling for a fair contract. The workers' independent union representative wrote us back in response to our letters of solidarity to the workers.
In his message he says:
Dear Friends at United Students Against Sweatshops,
Today we received a letter sent by Chad. In that letter there are also lots of letters from students and some photos. We are very happy to receive such support from students in Oregon. We saw in the photos how you have worked hard to present Indonesian workers' condition and stories
in you country. We will make sure this package gets shown to all our
comrades. We are sure that we grow stronger in our struggle, and will certainly succeed, with support from friends far across the ocean such as this. Greetings to Chad and all your comrades.
Until next time,
- M.
If you haven't yet written letters of support but would like to, please see below for a sample letter and more information regarding the situation at this factory.
Sample Letter in English:
Hello Friends at Garteks,
I am a student from the university of ___________________________________. First I would like to say "Thank You" for all of your work making products for universities, including my campus. Whenever I see the hats bearing my university’s logo I remember you and good people like yourself who made those hats with so much gentle care and hard work. Secondly, I want to say "Good Luck!" My friends and I here are thinking about you often and sending you our solidarity. We are with you in your struggle, and we are ready to take action with you if you want us to. We wish you courage, spirit/energy, safety, and success in your struggle. Thanks again for all of your hard work.
Warm Greetings,
(Your Name)
Sample Letter in Bahasa Indonesia:
Halo Kawan-Kawan Garteks,
Saya adalah mahasiswa(i) dari universitas__________________________________. Pertama-tama saya ingin mengucapcan "Terima Kasih Banyak!" untuk semua kerja kamu, khususnya terhadap produk-produk yang untuk universitas-universitas termasuk kampus saya. Setiap kali saya lihat topi-topi dengan logo sekolah saya saya ingat kamu, dan banyak orang baik lain seperti kamu, membuat topi-topi itu dengan kerja rajin dan keras. Hal Kedua, saya ingin mengucapkan "Semoga Sukses!" Saya dan teman-teman dari kampus saya mengirim kamu banyak solidaritas. Kami akan mengikuti terus perjuangan kamu dengan berdoa dan aksi bersama! Semoga berani, semangat, selamat, dan sukses! Terima kasih lagi untuk semua kerja keras kamu.
Salam Hangat, (Nama anda)
Information about factory:
Workers in Indonesia Call for Solidarity Letters
Workers at a factory in Indonesia that produces caps for over 60 U.S. universities and colleges want USAS solidarity. The independent union at this factory is going into negotiations this December for a CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement). The independent union in this factory represents most of the workers at this factory, however they face the obstacles and intimidation posed by the management-led union in the factory.
What workers are asking from USAS right now are solidarity letters.
These letters should:
- Convey encouragement and moral support in their upcoming CBA negotiations with the management,
- Give hope and strength in confronting and enduring the intimidation and harrassment that many workers have received from the more powerful management-led union and
- State that your USAS chapter hopes that the management will bargain in good faith and fairly with the workers.
It would also be great to collect photos of your campus chapter. Those of us from the CARI Indonesia team have seen that photographs and letters mean a lot to workers, as it is a visible and tangible sign of solidarity that they can connect with.
At this point, the workers at this factory are uncertain whether or not they will need an international solidarity campaign from USAS.
If your campus chapter wants to write letters on paper and if your campus chapter has an pictures to send, please mail these items to:
United Students Against Sweatshops,
888 16th St, NW, Suite 303,
Washington, DC, 20006
This is a group of workers that the CARI Indonesia team has gotten to know quite well when they were in Indonesia. We have many direct testimonies and photographs of workers from this factory. We have also maintained regular communication with the independent union at this factory. If your campus chapter is interested in more information about the workers at this factory, we can send it to you. Please email both
agatha34@juno.com and
bhumika620@yahoo.com for compiled data, worker testimonies and summaries of violations regarding this cap-producing factory for over 60 U.S. colleges and universities.
Your commitment to support the struggles of workers who make our collegiate-apparel all over the world is important. Writing letters and sending pictures is a very easy and tangible activity for your group to do. And it will make a difference to these workers sense of self-confidence as it will show them that they have a larger network of support out there. The value of transnational solidarity that knows no borders is at the very core of our international solidarity work.
- CARI Indonesia Team.
Other important information that we can currently reveal about this Factory:
Union Situation:
There is an independent union and a management-led union (ie, like a government union) in this factory. The independent union had one-fourth of the factory workforce as members as of May 2001. But since then the numbers have decreased because of the escalation in intimidation by the management-led union. The management-led union has been involuntarily subtracting "union dues" from workers wages, and many workers are not even informed. The management-led union has also been questioning workers regarding what union they belong to.
The independent union members have been trying to have a couple weekend trainings to get ready for the upcoming contract bargaining negotiations. A couple weeks ago, the independent union approached the management with a proposal to have a negotiation, and suggested to the management a certain timeframe by which to respond and cooperate with a negotation process. The management has still not responded, and has instead been sending hired men to intervene in the independent unions’ meetings. These hired men told the independent union that they were sent by the management to find out what is being talked about and planned at the independent unions’ meetings.
Workplace Conditions:
Some key issues that the workers have voiced to us are:
- Social security/health insurance that is cut from workers paychecks each month but never made accessible to workers,
- No food stipend (a standard in Indonesia),
- Verbal, mental and sexual harassment,
- Forced overtime,
- Approximately 1 hour of unpaid work every day (1 hour that's mandatory but not paid for),
- Intimidation to workers that do not want to affiliate with the management-led union
- Denial of worker's legal annual leave, menstrual leave, and sick leave,
- Harassing workers and sometimes preventing workers from praying (90% of them are Muslim, hence pray five times a day,)
- Many health issues due to lack of safety equipment, rules against wearing shoes in the factory, and pace of work.
- Inadequate transportation stipend.. among several other problems.