Steelworkers, Solidarity Center Help Liberian Workers Gain Real Union

by James Parks, Jul 27, 2007

The West African country of Liberia—which means “Land of the Free”—was founded in the 1800s as an independent nation with support of the U.S. government, for free-born and former black slaves. But for the past 85 years, workers at the “Firestone Plantation,”—that’s its real name—have not been able to elect their own union representatives without employer interference.

That all changed this month when the 4,700 workers voted for the first time free of interference or manipulation for union representatives of their choice in the Firestone Agricultural Workers Union of Liberia (FAWUL). For decades, the plantation owners, Bridgestone Firestone, controlled the leadership of FAWUL and its sectoral union, the General Agricultural and Allied Workers Union of Liberia (GAWUL). FAWUL and GAWUL provided little or no representation for workers. 

Despite attempts by GAWUL to nullify the election results, the Liberian Supreme Court has upheld the workers’ rights to elect their own leaders and engage in collective bargaining.

Together with Liberian trade union federation leaders, representatives of the United Steelworkers (USW) and the AFL-CIO’s Solidarity Center monitored the July 8 election. The workers, many of whom had begun work at 3:30 a.m. showed their determination for a democratic process by standing in long lines at 55 polling sites widely scattered across the million-acre plantation. The workers, who harvest the pulp from rubber trees, among other jobs, elected Austin Sumo Natee as president of FAWUL.

USW President Leo Gerard says:

While it’s shameful to see how a successful and highly profitable global corporation treats its employees, following this election, the democratically elected union representatives have overwhelming support to make improvements to their wages, living and working conditions.

The Steelworkers will continue to stand squarely behind the workers at Firestone in Liberia. We have a moral obligation to uplift the lives of people living in poverty conditions not seen in the Northern Hemisphere in the last 100 years.

The USW, which represents Bridgestone Firestone workers in the United States and Canada, has been supporting the Liberian employees for the past two years with training programs, workshops and education in partnership with the Solidarity Center.  

The USW and the Solidarity Center found horrid living conditions on the plantation. Workers at the plantation earn a little more than $3 a day, and only if they meet a burdonsome quota. They live in shacks with no electricity, no running water or toilet facilities. Their children have no access to a high school education. 

Ellie Larson , executive director of the Solidarity Center, congratulated the plantation workers on the first free, democratic union election in their 85-year history.

We also commend the Liberian government for its leadership in supporting the promotion of worker rights as a part of its post-war democracy efforts. We look forward to continuing our work to support FAWUL’s efforts as it builds a strong, effective union and improve the lives of its members.

Manfred Warda, general secretary of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers Unions (ICEM), based in Brussels, Belgium, praised the workers and the USW: 

We not only congratulate rubber workers’ in Liberia for this historic first, but also congratulate the USW of North America for its diligence and hard work in assuring that a free and fair vote occurred. 

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