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LETTER TO DISNEY IN DEFENCE OF HAITI'S WORKERS
Mr. Michael Eisner, Chief Executive Officer
Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521
tel: (818) 5601000
fax: (818) 846-7319
Dear Mr. Eisner,
The Walt Disney Company is in a unique position, with the power and visibility to become a world leader in protecting human rights and helping to wipe out the scourge of sweatshops. I urge the Disney Company to finally respond seriously to the abushe conditions faced by workers in Haiti, Burma and elsewhere who have sewn Disney garments.
Workers in Haiti who are sewing Disney garments are merely requesting that Disney Company representatives come to Haiti to meet with the workers, visit their homes and see how their families live on 30 cent-an-hour wages, and begin discussions regarding what the workers refer to as a "living wage." These workers are not asking $10 an hour, or $5 an hour, or even $1.00 an hour. They are willing to discuss a living wage as low as 58 cents an hour! This is nothing, and Disney could easily afford this. The Haitian workers are putting forth a very modest and reasonable request for dialogue. Surely this is not too much to ask.
In fact, studies show that women in Haiti sewing 101 Dalmations children's outfits are being paid only 6 cents for every $19.99 garment they make. This means their wages amount to only three-tenths of one percent of the sales price of the garment in the U.S. It is clear that wages in Haiti could easily be raised with no impact whatsoever on Disney's profits.
The fact that Disney clothing has been produced in Burma during the last year - in direct complicity with the vicious military regime - is a terrible mistake. Disney should stand tall and publicly announce that as of this minute not one Disney garment will ever again be sewn in Burma until the overwhelmingly elected democratic government is restored to office. How did this murderous Burmese dictatorship make it past Disney's screening process for potential contractors? This is a serious issue, which requires concrete direct answers.
The Walt Disney Company could help restore basic human rights around the world - upholding real family values - by insisting that your contractors open their plants to independent monitoring by respected local religious and human rights organizations. If these contractors have nothing to hide, then what could they possibly have to fear from such independent inspections?
I can assure you that the U.S. and Canadian people will never willingly purchase products made by children or exploited women forced to work long hours for starvation wages.
I ask Disney to join hands with concerned consumers. Every one of us would far prefer serious dialogue with the Disney Company rather than the need to carry out human rights campaigns like the current one. I urge you to seriously respond.
Sincerely,
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