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IKEA, Wal-Mart, Target and Kohl’s Sleeping Easy While Turkish Workers Suffer

by Erika Yost on May 18, 2009

images2 IKEA, Wal Mart, Target and Kohls Sleeping Easy While Turkish Workers SufferRecently the DC-based group International Labor Rights Forum informed those concerned with global labor rights, that IKEA, Wal-Mart, Target and Kohl’s are passively watching as union-busting is taking place at a Turkish supplier factory.

The following background has been provided by the ILRF:

Menderes Tekstil in Southwestern Turkey produces bed linens for the home. Over the last years, four Menderes workers died due to work-related injuries. In the most recent accident, on November 20, 2008, one employee died when he fell into the funnel of a coal boiler. Workers reported that the boiler had no safety measures to prevent such an accident. After the tragic accident, the factory management reportedly ordered three colleagues of the victim to climb into the funnel to retrieve the body. Again, no safety measures were taken, and the three had no protection against toxic gases inside the boiler. They suffered respiratory poisoning and had to seek treatment in a nearby hospital.

In March 2008, the national Turkish textile workers union TEKSIF started organizing workers at the factory. Since then, the Menderes management called the union leaders into their offices one by one, and gave them the choice between denouncing the union or being sacked. Turkish law prohibits dismissals or transfers as retribution for union organizing.

In August 2008 workers and union representatives started protests outside the Menderes factory. The protests lasted for 190 days and were aimed at gaining acceptance of their union. Despite these actions, the company has continued to harass the unionists and has refused any dialogue with the union.

Meanwhile, eight court cases of wrongfully dismissed employees are currently before the magistrate. However, the judicial process could take years before producing any verdict.

More information about ILRF’s communication with Wal-Mart, Kohl’s and Target, visit ILRF’s Menderes Tekstil Factory Profile.

The ILRF and the CCC urge these companies to use their influence and insist that their Turkish supplier enters into a direct dialogue with trade union TEKSIF.

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TV Recycling Report Card Gives High Marks to Sony, but Flunks JVC, Philips, Vizio and More

by Erika Yost on January 11, 2009

images1 TV Recycling Report Card Gives High Marks to Sony, but Flunks JVC, Philips, Vizio and MoreElectronic waste, or e-waste, dumping in developing countries such as Ghana reflects the worst of our “throw-away” society and our willingness to push our problems off on others. To read more about Ghana, please read this August 2008 article from The Ghanaian Times: ‘Stop Electronic Waste Dumping in Ghana!’

What are companies that produce TVs doing to protect people and planet? In 2001 the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, a national coalition of non-profit groups promoting green design and responsible recycling in the electronics industry, was established to study this and other questions. Take Back My TV is a campaign of the Coalition and in November 2008 the group started issuing a TV Takeback Report Card.

Here are the results on a scale of A through F:

A – None of the companies achieved this grade

B – Sony received a B-. “Sony was the first TV company to launch a national takeback program. They need a lot more collection sites to be convenient in many states, but we applaud Sony for its leadership on TV takeback.”

C – Samsung, LG, Wal-mart “LG and Samsung have national takeback programs. Wal-mart has recently partnered with Samsung to take back Wal-mart’s house branded TVs.”

D – Panasonic, Sharp, Toshiba, Best Buy “These manufacturers partner together in recycling under their MRM company. MRM has just started expanding beyond states which require recycling. Best Buy’s rating is for taking back its house brand TVs.”

F – Funai, Hitachi, JVC, Mitsubishi, Philips, Thomson, Vizio, Target, Sanyo “These companies have no voluntary takeback programs at all.”

Here is more about this initiative from the Take Back My TV website:

TV Recycling:  A Slow Start With Digital Conversion Fast Approaching

Is the TV Industry Embracing Recycling?

This is our first TV Takeback Report Card. Only a little over a year ago, no TV company had a national takeback and recycling program, and the digital conversion was fast approaching. While most computer companies have been offering takeback for a few years now, the TV companies had no programs, and were busy lobbying against state laws requiring takeback.

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