Jeans with Justice Campaign Against Levis

February 14, 2006

Message from Joannie Chang of the Asian Law Caucus

Folks, please consider the following request from Martha Ojeda, Executive Director of the Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras. The Asian Law Caucus will co-sponsor the demonstration on 2/16/06 and is also committed to helping the workers get the word out on this important issue.

Please join us in supporting the Lajat Workers Union — (1) attend the demo on Thursday, February 16th at noon at Levi’s headquarters at 1155 Battery Street in San Francisco and (2) send support letters, which will soon be available from CJM’s website, at www.coalitionforjustice.net. A final version of the press release with more information about the case will also be posted on this site.

Thanks, Joannie

Joannie C. Chang, Esq.
Director of Employment & Labor Projects
ASIAN LAW CAUCUS
939 Market Street, Suite 201
San Francisco , CA 94103
(415) 896-1701 extension 114
(415) 896-1702 facsimile

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

My name is Martha Ojeda, I’m the executive Director of the Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras a tri national coalition of labor, religious, grassroots, community and woman’s organizations from Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. Our efforts are grounded in supporting workers and community struggles for social, economic and environmental justice where the maquiladoras [the assembly plant of the multinationals corporations] are located.

At this moment we are launching a Jeans with Justice Campaign against Levis. The workers of Lajat Manufacturing based in La Laguna Region of Durango [south Central Mexico] have been fighting to improve their working condition and for their democratic and independent union. They have been facing the corruption of the Mexican government, the labor authorities, the company and the CTM [charro] union for the last year. Their union petition was denied twice with ridicules arguments by the Conciliation and Arbitration Board President. The workers appealed the resolution and finally on January 17, 2006 the federal court ruled in favor of the workers. However, at this time Lajat management does not recognize the union and the labor board has not given the legal recognition of the union yet despite the order of the federal court.

CJM has been requesting to Levi’s that they enforce their code of conduct with Lajat as one of its suppliers. On October 24, 2005 one of the worker organizers of Lajat in Durango met with Michael Kobori, President of the Global Code of Conduct of Levi’s in Levi’s San Francisco headquarters and two days after Lajat repressed the workers with brutality, calling the police and ordered them to tear gassing and attack the workers on the floor. On November 10, 2005 Lajat Manufacturing closed the plant in order to avoid that the workers independent union take place.

The workers have been fighting back, resisting and mobilizing, this coming February 16 CJM is organizing a demonstration at Levi’s headquarters in San Fransisco, at noon, previous to the meeting of one of the organizers of the Lajat workers who is coming to meet again with Michael Kobori on February 17 at nine a.m.

We are asking if you can help us in any of the following:

-We need brothers and sisters to show up in the demo on February 16th at noon
-If someone of you are interested in co-sponsoring the press release and demo please let me know
-Also we need solidarity support pressuring Levi’s by sending letters or calling Michael Kobori telling him that you are aware of the Lajat workers situation and that Levi’s has to respect the Mexican labor law and to enforce the Levis code of conduct.
-We need that you spread the word between all your members, contacts and allies in the bay area.
-We need financial support for the Lajat workers organizing

Please let me know if you can help us in any way.

I hope that we can make a lot of noise and Levi’s understand that they can’t exploit workers and cut and run.
I hope to hear from you
Thanks
Martha
cjm_mojeda@igc.org