SAN FRANCISCO! INTERNATIONAL CALL FOR PROTESTS AT FOOTLOCKER JUNE 13

SAN FRANCISCO CENTER
865 MARKET STREET
SPACE #238
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-227-4834
Distance: Approx. 1.0 Miles FOOT LOCKER
MISSION STREET
2829 MISSION STREET
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-285-3111
Distance: Approx. 1.7 Miles
STONESTOWN GALLERIA
3251 20TH AVE
SPACE 266
San Francisco, CA 94132
415-564-3290
Distance: Approx. 5.6 Miles FOOT LOCKER
SERRAMONTE CENTER
8-B SERRAMONTE CENTER
Daly City, CA 94015
650-994-8161
Distance: Approx. 7.9 Miles






Labor Alerts (12,000 subscribers), a free service of: Campaign for Labor
Rights
Trim Bissell, National Co-Coordinator Daisy Pitkin, Co-Coordinator,
<clrdc [at] afgj.org> Phone: 202-544-9355 Web: <http://www.summersault.com/~agj/clr> To
subscribe/unsubscribe, email <CLR [at] afgj.org> <><><><><>

CLR Labor Alert posted June 11, 2002

In this Alert:
1. UPDATE--International Day of Action on Footlocker!
2. Action Tally -- Look for action plans in your community.
3. Target for June 13 Day of Action Shifts to Foot Locker Due to Ann Taylor
Response to Campaign Demands. 4. Union Busting is Disgusting! 5. Background
in Tainan Campaign

<><><><><>

URGENT UPDATE: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION ON TAINAN CHANGES FOCUS FROM ANN
TAYLOR TO FOOTLOCKER.

Participate in International Day of Action June 13th on Foot Locker!

In response to the inaction of Tainan Enterprises in the face of the demand
to reopen the factory in El Salvador and respect the right of the union
there, STIT, to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement, STIT is
calling for an international day of action against Tainan Enterprises on
June 13th (June 12th for Taiwan). Activists in Taiwan will protest at
Tainan Enterprises headquarters in Taipei. STIT in El Salvador plans to
protest the Embassy of Taiwan and the office of Tainan Enterprises in El
Salvador. And you can participate by organizing an action at the Foot
Locker store nearest you!

(NOTE: Many of you had received an alert asking for actions against Ann
Taylor. The company?s recent response to campaign demands has shifted the
target for the day of action to Foot Locker. Ann Taylor?s response is the
result of efforts of local activists seeking a meeting with company
representatives about supporting worker rights and is testimony to the
strength of the anti-sweatshop movement!)

Take Action!

1) Go to the ?store locator? on the Foot Locker website
<http://www.footlocker.com/> to find the Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, or
Lady Foot Locker nearest you. Then contact us for an action packet. Also,
we may be able to help turn people out to your local action - if you are
planning an action, send us the details so we can contact other activists
in your area.

2) Contact Campaign for Labor Rights, CLR [at] afgj.org, 202-544-9355, or go to
the US/LEAP website <http://www.usleap.org> to get an action packet (available
Monday, June 10th) that includes:

~ Leaflet samples to download and use
~ Talking points for store managers
~ Up-to-date reports of the STIT fight in El Salvador and the international
campaign

3) If you don't have a Foot Locker store in your area, circulate a sign-on
letter in your community and fax to the Foot Locker headquarters in New
York City on the 13th. Fax letters to 212-720-4397, or email Foot Locker
Customer Service at: customer_service [at] footlocker.com, or call their
toll-free customer service line at: 1-800-991-6815.

IMPORTANT: Please let us know if you plan to participate in this day of
action in any way so that we can asses our collective efforts and let you,
the union, and others around the world know how big the day of action was!
Email us at: CLR [at] afgj.org.

<><><><><>

ACTION TALLY

Actions are planned in the following cities. Contact us if you live in one
of these areas and would like to be put in touch with the action point
person in your community.

Tucson, AZ Sacramento, CA
Santa Cruz, CA
Washington, DC
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Springfield, IL (possible)
South Bend, IN
Springfield, MA (possible)
Saginaw, MI (possible)
St. Paul, MN
Las Cruces, NM
New York, NY
North Babylon, NY (possible)
Eugene, OR
Medford/Ashland, OR
Portland, OR
Philadelphia, PA (possible)
Jackson, TN
Salt Lake City, UT (possible)


TARGET FOR JUNE 13TH DAY OF ACTION SHIFTS TO FOOTLOCKER DUE TO ANN TAYLOR
RESPONSE TO CAMPAIGN DEMANDS

Ann Taylor is the fifth customer of Tainan Enterprises to respond to
delegations of activists from across the United States who are visiting the
headquarters of Tainan Enterprises customers about the union-busting
factory closing in El Salvador on April 26th. The delegations have asked
these retailers to write to Tainan Enterprises and urge the company to
resume operations in El Salvador and negotiate with the union in
consideration of respect for worker rights. The other companies who have
sent letters to Tainan Enterprises are Columbia Sportswear, the Gap,
Kellwood Company (a vendor), and Philips-Van Heusen.

Ann Taylor wrote a letter to Tainan Enterprises on June 3rd (just a day
before the announcement of the International Day of Action against Ann
Taylor) and asked the company for information about the suspicious closing.
The letter also notes that the closing of a factory as an anti-union
measure and would be a violation of their Principles and Guidelines. ?We
value our business relationships and it is Ann Taylor?s policy to work with
our suppliers, however, we will not tolerate noncompliance with our
Principles and Guidelines,? states the letter.

Tainan Enterprises customers that have not yet responded include Federated
Department Stores (which owns Macy?s Department Stores), May Department
Stores, and Foot Locker. Of these, Foot Locker is the strategic choice for
a target of the International Day of Action to support the Tainan workers
in El Salvador.

<><><><><>

UNION BUSTING IS DISGUSTING

Tainan Enterprises is a Taiwanese-based company that closed its factory in
El Salvador at the end of April just as the union there submitted its
application for legal bargaining rights for a contract. Tainan Enterprises

has factories in Cambodia, Indonesia, Taiwan, and China that are running at
full capacity, yet Tainan Enterprises says it doesn?t have any orders for
its factory in El Salvador and must close the factory down.

The announcement of closure came after the workers had gained legal
recognition for the union, Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria
Textiles (STIT, or the Industrial Union of Textile Workers), and had
launched an organizing campaign for the right to demand a contract (which
requires that over 50% of the workforce are signed up for the union).
Since workers had expressed interest in forming a union at the Tainan
factory, the company has engaged in anti-union activities such as firings,
suspensions, and harassment.

The fight continues to stop the union-busting closure of the Tainan
Enterprises factory in El Salvador, despite the cessation of production at
the plant at the end of April. Action for worker rights in El Salvador, the
U.S., and Taiwan have kept Tainan Enterprises from being able to completely
dissolve itself in El Salvador, which means there is a greater chance that
the factory may reopen.

<><><><><>

BACKGROUND ON TAINAN CAMPAIGN

Provided by Centro de Estudios y Apoyo Laboral - CEAL (Center of Labour
Studies and Support in El Salvador), translated by US/LEAP

Chronology of events:

1. During the earthquakes in January and February 2001, Tainan forces its
workers to continue working disregarding the national emergency. Two of
the union leaders speak on behalf of other union members and direct these
concerns to Tainan. For this reason, both leaders are suspended on February
26, 2001. Their names are Joaquin Alas Salguero and Ruben Ulises Orellana.


2. Both leaders become affiliated with the union, STIT, and shortly after
directing their allegations to the regional representatives of Gap, an
agreement is reached on March 19, 2001. Tainan legally recognizes both
leaders as their employees, although the plant pays their salaries at the
entrance and does not allow them to return to work.

3. Although faced with great difficulty and with diverse and covert
anti-union actions, an affiliation campaign takes place with STIT inside
Tainan,

4. During the visit of President Chen Shui-Bian of Taiwan, on May 23, 2001,

a division of STIT is organized inside Tainan. The union members direct
letters to both the President and his ambassador in El Salvador.

5. In July, 2001 STIT obtains legal status as a union from the Labor
Ministry.

6. Beginning August 7, 2001 strong action takes place insofar as to
re-admittance of both union members/leaders Joaquin and Ruben. On August
26, 2001 STIT organizes its first strike based on the threat of 60
suspensions, most of which are union members.

7. On October 17, 2001 the first worker suspensions take place of whom the
majority are union members. Legal actions and protests take place by STIT,
which consequently are suspended on October 30, 2001.

8. On November 30, 2001 as a result of the threat of a major campaign
against GAP and interventions with the El Salvadorian government by
AFL-CIO, US/LEAP, FITTVC and other organizations, Tainan signs an accord
with STIT as to readmit the two union leaders. Both leader return to
Tainan on December 10 and new agreements are reached allowing for a better
dialogue between the workers and Tainan.

9. Shortly after peaceful negotiations, however, new claims of more staff
suspensions and firings take place. This is due in part to the Labor
Ministry incompetence in complying with the previous allegations on October
2001. STIT begins direct actions inside Tainan on March 6, at the same
time that a series of demands take place at the national and international
level. Later in the month, the union launches an effort to sign up workers
in order to reach the numbers needed to demand collective bargaining
agreements (50%
+ 1 of one plant). Tainan would be one of the first to do this in El
Salvador?s maquila sector.

10. Mr. Wu Tao Chang, manager of Tainan, and his consultant, Mr. Carlos
Silva, announce on April 5th the beginning of more suspensions, arguing
that the labels Kohl?s, Target and Gap had not placed any order and that
such order were not profitable for Tainan. Suspensions only affect the
unionized section TS2 of Tainan El Salvador?s operations. The union
presents evidence that there is no lack of orders and the company is
outsourcing to other factories. On April 22 suspensions begin taking place
in TS1. This was further proof of what looked like a complete withdrawal
of Tainan from El Salvador.

11. On April 18, the union files a request with the Labor Minister to
negotiate a collective bargaining agreement.

12. On April 19, AFL-CIO representatives and local international worker
rights activists meet with representatives of Tainan Enterprises in Taiwan.
Tainan tells the delegation that the factory will only be closed
temporarily and will rehire the workers once production resumes.

13. As of April 25 close to 420, of the 440 workers from TS2, had being
suspended, many of them accepting mutual and ?volunteer? firings from the
plant (Tainan).

14. On April 26 announces its intent to close and the management begins to
dismantle the machinery in the factory.


URGENT UPDATE to International Day of Action
Ann Taylor Finally Responds! Foot Locker becomes target for day of action
in the U.S. US/LEAP Action Alert 6-6-02 http://www.usleap.org

Participate in International Day of Action June 13th on Foot Locker!

In response to the inaction of Tainan Enterprises in the face of the demand
to reopen the factory in El Salvador and respect the right of the union
there, STIT, to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement, STIT is
calling for an international day of action against Tainan Enterprises on
June 13th (June 12th for Taiwan). Activists in Taiwan have already agreed
to participate in the day of action with a protest at Tainan Enterprises
headquarters in Taipei. STIT in El Salvador plans to protest the Embassy
of Taiwan and the office of Tainan Enterprises in El Salvador. And you can
participate by organizing an action at the Foot Locker store nearest you!

(Note: Many of you had received an alert asking for actions against Ann
Taylor. The company?s recent response to campaign demands has shifted the
target for the day of action to Foot Locker. Ann Taylor?s and the company
responses are the result of efforts of local activists seeking a meeting
with company representatives about supporting worker rights and is
testimony to the strength of the anti-sweatshop movement!)

Take Action!

1) Go to the ?store locator? on the Foot Locker website
<http://www.footlocker.com/> to find the Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, or
Lady Foot Locker nearest you.

2) Contact us or go to the US/LEAP website <http://www.usleap.org> to get an
action packet (available Monday, June 10th) that includes:

~ Leaflet samples to download and use
~ Talking points for store managers
~ Up-to-date reports of the STIT fight in El Salvador and the international
campaign

3) If you don't have a Foot Locker store in your area, circulate a sign-on
letter in your community and fax to the Foot Locker headquarters in New
York City on the 13th. Fax letters to 212-720-4397, or email Foot Locker
Customer Service at: customer_service [at] footlocker.com, or call their
toll-free customer service line at: 1-800-991-6815.

::: Please let us know about your plans for the day of action and we may be
able to connect you with other activists in your area and gauge the U.S.
response to the International Day of Action.:::

Target for International Day Action was Ann Taylor, but is now Foot Locker

Ann Taylor is the fifth customer of Tainan Enterprises to respond to
delegations of activists from across the United States who are visiting the
headquarters of Tainan Enterprises customers about the union-busting
factory closing in El Salvador on April 26th. The delegations have asked
these retailers to write to Tainan Enterprises and urge the company to
resume operations in El Salvador and negotiate with the union in
consideration of respect for worker rights. The other companies who have
sent letters to Tainan Enterprises are Columbia Sportswear, the Gap,
Kellwood Company (a vendor), and Philips-Van Heusen.

Ann Taylor wrote a letter to Tainan Enterprises on June 3rd (just a day
before the announcement of the International Day of Action against Ann
Taylor) and asked the company for information about the suspicious closing.
The letter also notes that the closing of a factory as an anti-union
measure and would be a violation of their Principles and Guidelines. ?We
value our business relationships and it is Ann Taylor?s policy to work with
our suppliers, however, we will not tolerate noncompliance with our
Principles and Guidelines,? states the letter.

Tainan Enterprises customers that have not yet responded include Federated
Department Stores (which owns Macy?s Department Stores), May Department
Stores, and Foot Locker. Of these, Foot Locker is the strategic choice for
a target of the International Day of Action to support the Tainan workers
in El Salvador.

Union Busting is Disgusting

Tainan Enterprises is a Taiwanese-based company that closed its factory in
El Salvador at the end of April just as the union there submitted its
application for legal bargaining rights for a contract. Tainan Enterprises

has factories in Cambodia, Indonesia, Taiwan, and China that are running at
full capacity, yet Tainan Enterprises says it doesn?t have any orders for
its factory in El Salvador and must close the factory down.

The announcement of closure came after the workers had gained legal
recognition for the union, Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria
Textiles (STIT, or the Industrial Union of Textile Workers), and had
launched an organizing campaign for the right to demand a contract (which
requires that over 50% of the workforce are signed up for the union).
Since workers had expressed interest in forming a union at the Tainan
factory, the company has engaged in anti-union activities such as firings,
suspensions, and harassment.

The fight continues to stop the union-busting closure of the Tainan
Enterprises factory in El Salvador, despite the cessation of production at
the plant at the end of April. Action for worker rights in El Salvador, the
U.S., and Taiwan have kept Tainan Enterprises from being able to completely
dissolve itself in El Salvador, which means there is a greater chance that
the factory may reopen.

STIT Appeals for Financial Support

However, STIT has asked US/LEAP to appeal to U.S. activists for financial
support for the Tainan workers. In an effort to make it harder for Tainan
to leave the country, many workers have not taken the severance pay owed to
them, making unfinished business for the company to deal with in El
Salvador. The longer these workers are able to survive without severance,
the more time there is to fight the company leaving the country altogether.
However, no job and little savings means these workers can only survive
with support from others.

Contributions can be made out to US/LEAP and sent to P.O. Box 268-290,
Chicago, IL 60626. Please note ?STIT Donation? in the memo line.

Tainan Background
Provided by Centro de Estudios y Apoyo Laboral - CEAL (Center of Labour
Studies and Support in El Salvador), translated by US/LEAP

Chronology of events:

1. During the earthquakes in January and February 2001, Tainan forces its
workers to continue working disregarding the national emergency. Two of
the union leaders speak on behalf of other union members and direct these
concerns to Tainan. For this reason, both leaders are suspended on February
26, 2001. Their names are Joaquin Alas Salguero and Ruben Ulises Orellana.


2. Both leaders become affiliated with the union, STIT, and shortly after
directing their allegations to the regional representatives of Gap, an
agreement is reached on March 19, 2001. Tainan legally recognizes both
leaders as their employees, although the plant pays their salaries at the
entrance and does not allow them to return to work.

3. Although faced with great difficulty and with diverse and covert
anti-union actions, an affiliation campaign takes place with STIT inside
Tainan,

4. During the visit of President Chen Shui-Bian of Taiwan, on May 23, 2001,

a division of STIT is organized inside Tainan. The union members direct
letters to both the President and his ambassador in El Salvador.

5. In July, 2001 STIT obtains legal status as a union from the Labor
Ministry.

6. Beginning August 7, 2001 strong action takes place insofar as to
re-admittance of both union members/leaders Joaquin and Ruben. On August
26, 2001 STIT organizes its first strike based on the threat of 60
suspensions, most of which are union members.

7. On October 17, 2001 the first worker suspensions take place of whom the
majority are union members. Legal actions and protests take place by STIT,
which consequently are suspended on October 30, 2001.

8. On November 30, 2001 as a result of the threat of a major campaign
against GAP and interventions with the El Salvadorian government by
AFL-CIO, US/LEAP, FITTVC and other organizations, Tainan signs an accord
with STIT as to readmit the two union leaders. Both leader return to
Tainan on December 10 and new agreements are reached allowing for a better
dialogue between the workers and Tainan.

9. Shortly after peaceful negotiations, however, new claims of more staff
suspensions and firings take place. This is due in part to the Labor
Ministry incompetence in complying with the previous allegations on October
2001. STIT begins direct actions inside Tainan on March 6, at the same
time that a series of demands take place at the national and international
level. Later in the month, the union launches an effort to sign up workers
in order to reach the numbers needed to demand collective bargaining
agreements (50%
+ 1 of one plant). Tainan would be one of the first to do this in El
Salvador?s maquila sector.

10. Mr. Wu Tao Chang, manager of Tainan, and his consultant, Mr. Carlos
Silva, announce on April 5th the beginning of more suspensions, arguing
that the labels Kohl?s, Target and Gap had not placed any order and that
such order were not profitable for Tainan. Suspensions only affect the
unionized section TS2 of Tainan El Salvador?s operations. The union
presents evidence that there is no lack of orders and the company is
outsourcing to other factories. On April 22 suspensions begin taking place
in TS1. This was further proof of what looked like a complete withdrawal
of Tainan from El Salvador.

11. On April 18, the union files a request with the Labor Minister to
negotiate a collective bargaining agreement.

12. On April 19, AFL-CIO representatives and local international worker
rights activists meet with representatives of Tainan Enterprises in Taiwan.
Tainan tells the delegation that the factory will only be closed
temporarily and will rehire the workers once production resumes.

13. As of April 25 close to 420, of the 440 workers from TS2, had being
suspended, many of them accepting mutual and ?volunteer? firings from the
plant (Tainan).

14. On April 26 announces its intent to close and the management begins to
dismantle the machinery in the factory.