NFWM

Reynolds Tobacco Campaign

Do not take advantage of a hired hand who is poor and needy,
whether he is another Israelite
or an alien living in one of your towns.
-  Deuteronomy 24:14

150+ FLOC members & supporters make presence felt
at RJ Reynolds' Annual Shareholder Meeting!!

NFWM and FLOC staff arranged an impressive presence at the RJR annual meeting in Winston-Salem on May 6, 2008. Outside, 150 rallied and distributed alternative shareholder proposals to meeting attendees. Inside, Fr. Michael Cosby presented a shareholder resolution calling on the company to respect workers' rights. NFWM Executive Director Virginia Nesmith spoke to second the resolution. As she spoke, farm workers and supporters revealed a dozen 3' X4' posters documenting the appalling conditions workers face. The resolution gained 13% support, an unusually high level for this kind of process.
TAKE ACTION:

Despite several attempts by FLOC President Baldemar Velazquez and FLOC allies, Susan Ivey, CEO of RJ Reynolds, has refused to meet with FLOC to discuss conditions for farmworkers in North Carolina's tobacco fields.

 Help tobacco harvesters gain respect in their work with this campaign for health and dignity in the workplace.

Show R.J. Reynolds WE WILL NOT BE SILENT while people are dying in the fields

Print out and sign a postcard for us to deliver to
RJ Reynolds, or contact Alexandria Jones at NFWM and she can send some to you. (Background in printable view)

Office: 919-489-4485
Cell: 919-597-1080
BACKGROUND:
(Background in printable view) R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company is the second-largest tobacco company in the United States, manufacturing about one of every three cigarettes sold in the country. In 2006 Reynolds American Inc. had sales in excess of $8.5 billion worldwide. While big tobacco makes billions, tobacco farmworkers live in poverty, face racism and harassment, nicotine poisoning, lethal pesticides, staggering deft, and have hardly any labor and human rights protections.

Photo University of Kentucky College of Public Health

The tragedies which occur daily in the fields are due to industry-wide problems that need to be addressed by those who have control over the tobacco market— RJ Reynolds being at the top of this list. The Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) is calling on RJ Reynolds to take responsibility for the oppressive conditions in which tobacco workers labor in North Carolina. Together with FLOC, RJ Reynolds can use its tr4emendous power to initiate changes that will improve the lives of growers and farm workers alike.

Despite several attempts by FLOC President Baldemar Velazquez and allies, Susan Ivey, CEO of RJ Reynolds, has refused to meet with him to discuss conditions for farmworkers in North Carolina's tobacco fields.
CAMPAIGN NEWS:
RJR CEO Ivey earns $7.9 million in 2007 - a 24% increase - Forbes, March 24, 2008
In 2007, RJR's parent company, Reynolds American reported earnings of $1.31 billion, or $4.43 per share. Revenue rose to $9.02 billion.
Full article

Nearly 400 FLOC supporters marched in NC, calling on RJ Reynolds to improve conditions in the tobacco fields - October 28, 2007

NFWM's North Carolina staff provided significant logistical support in planning this successful event. Our director and two board members attended. NFWM is proud to stand with FLOC in this new campaign for farm worker justice in North Carolina. [Photos of event]

Newspaper Articles
Farm union targets RJR -News & Observer, NC - October 27, 2007
Farm workers seek better conditions - Greensboro News Record, NC - October 29, 2007
Calls for Change: Demonstrators march to Reynolds American ... - Winston-Salem Journal, NC - October 29, 2007
Tobacco workers urged to rally - Mount Airy News, NC - October 26, 2007
Union That Took On Mount Olive Turns Aim Toward Tobacco Workers - WITN TV - October 28, 2007

Blogs and Other Websites
Huffington Post: A Harvest of Shame Baldemar Velasquez | Posted October 25, 2007 | Politics
Join FLOC in Fighting for Justice for Tobacco Workers, James Parks, AFL-CIO blog October 25, 2007
Justice for Tobacco Workers - by Tula Connell, October 25, 2007
March on R. J. Reynolds for Union Recognition - October 11, 2007


An energetic rally on Monday, September 24, 2007 at Lloyd Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was the first event of FLOC's new campaign. Workers, community members and people of faith came together from across the state to join the Farm Labor Organizing Committee's call on RJ Reynolds to address conditions in the tobacco fields of North Carolina. At the event Richard Kortiz spoke about RJ Reynolds tobacco plant workers' organizing efforts in the 1940's. More photos (video)
Supporters wait outside Lloyd Presbyterian church in Winston-Salem before the rally begins
Photo by Alex Jones
Rev. Heather McCain of the Episcopal church talks to Kyle Lambelet of the Beloved Community center in Greensboro
Photo by Alex Jones


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© Copyright: NFWM. Wednesday, 16-Jul-2008 12:51:41 PDT.