NORTH SAILS GLOBAL SPORTS TECHNOLOGIES a disgrace!

Making surf sails for the Brand North Sails and Global Sports Technologies is a dirty business!

In 2002, 207 workers were dismissed because they had gone on strike to protest management's refusal to pay their annual quality bonus. Since their wages are extremely low, the workers needed these "bonuses" to survive. Twelve workers were charged with 'inciting workers to strike'. Following an internal investigation conducted by management workers were reinstated and the 12 workers were told they too would be rehired. Management later broke its word and decided that seven of 12 workers would not be rehired. The factory Employees' Council tried to intervene but was unsuccessful. North Sails workers again went on strike in protest. This time management closed down the entire factory and when the factory reopened, new staff were hired. Workers were promised reinstatement if they signed a letter admitting they participated in an illegal strike - something the workers unanimously refused to do.


I am asking everyone reading this please take action! Forward this link to as many people as possible, go to the website and do more, send emails etc whatever it takes, the more people we can gather togeather to do something the more will get done. http://www.cleanclothes.org/companies/northsails-05-08.htm#action
PLEASE follow this link! Read it and send as many letters to the people listed as possible.
If we all do this we will have an impact.

It is a disgrace we are typically not even aware these things go on or by whom. Once you know though you cannot do nothing.

I have included the letter below for you to cut and paste into an email or go to the website and click the link for each persons contact details then paste into email.

Action requests
Write to North SailsThe Clean Clothes Campaign asks you to write to North Sails and demand that the company pressure Global Sports Lanka to accept neutral third-party mediation and to negotiate directly with the FTZ&GSEU (Free Trade Zone & General Services Employees Union) representing the workers to reinstate the dismissed workers without any further delay. Make clear to them that their conduct in this dispute is unacceptable. Send the letter now! >>
Organise protests at surf sail eventsAnother action request is to organise protests at surf sail events where North Sails is present or events that are sponsored by North Sails. SAMPLE LETTER
Send the following letter to:
President North Sails: Tom Whidden: tom@nmg.northsails.comCEO North Sails Group: Terry Kohler: terry.kohler@windway.comNorth Sails Europe: info@euro.northsails.comNorth Sails Australia: office@au.northsails.com
Please send copies send to:
GST Holding (owner of Global Sports Lanka)christoph.syz@bluewin.ch
Boards & More Austria GmbH (license holder North Sails brand)Attn.: Gregor König office@boards-and-more.com
Boards & More Switzerland (license holder North Sails brand)Attn.: Mr. Schwab info@boards-and-more.ch
Global Sports Lanka, Ltd. (owners of the Global Sports Lanka factory.)Meinhard Schwendtke info@nslanka.lk
Clean Clothes Campaign
Please remember to send any responses to your letter to the Clean Clothes Campaign and to the union in Sri Lanka ftzunion@ diamond.lanka.net
Windway Capital Corp. (North Sails Parent Company)630 Riverfront Dr. Ste. 200 Sheboygan, WisconsinUnited States of AmericaTel.: + + 920 457 8600
Dear Mr. Whidden and Mr. Kohler,
I have been informed by the Clean Clothes Campaign about the ongoing labor dispute at Global Sports Lanka (North Sails Lanka) located in the Katunayake Free Trade Zone in Sri Lanka. In this factory, where North Sails surf sails are made, 207 workers were dismissed in 2002 because they had gone on strike to protest management's refusal to pay their annual quality bonus. Since their wages are extremely low, the workers needed these "bonuses" to survive. These workers were unjustly dismissed and North Sails has a role to play in correcting this injustice.
March 29th of this year marked the third anniversary of this dispute. I understand that despite repeated attempts by the FTZ&GSEU (Free Trade Zone & General Services Employees Union) in Sri Lanka to resolve this situation and an international campaign to urge Global Sports Technologies (GST Holding in Switzerland) to pressure local management to resolve the dispute, either by reinstating the dismissed workers, or as a minimum, agreeing to 3rd party neutral mediation, Global Sports Lanka dismissed these attempts and has not shown any initiative to come to a fair resolution. I am contacting you at this time to request that North Sails take action to end this deadlock.
North Sails has been informed about the labor conflict in Sri Lanka and has to date not contacted the union to discuss how the conflict can be resolved. This leads me to conclude that not only GSL, but also North Sails does not support workers' rights.
I join the Clean Clothes Campaign and labour rights advocates around the world in urging North Sails to pressure local management in Sri Lanka to meet the following demands of the union:
· reinstate the illegally dismissed workers;· agree to mediation by a third neutral party as proposed by the union or forward a suitable alternative;· recognize workers' rights to organize and to collective bargaining.
I understand that a proposal for a well-respected mediator used by global giants such as Nike was made. Why has this not been accepted?
While GSL and North Sails continue their delaying tactics, the situation of the dismissed workers has steadily deteriorated, causing them great hardship. That is why immediate action on your part is needed to resolve this situation. It is still not too late to do the right thing for the workers who have contributed to the well-being of your company. I am sure that you would agree that North Sails workers should be treated with respect and fairness. I strongly urge you to take immediate action on this very serious case today.
I look forward to hearing what action you will be taking in this matter.
Sincerely,
[name]