Dear Friends,

Below is an update from the Maquila Solidarity Network (MSN) regarding the Vaqueros Navarra workers in Tehuacan, Mexico who are fighting for the right to be represented by an independent, democratic union. There has been some positive action taken by several companies, but those buyers with the most production in the factories have yet to respond.

MSN asks that we help by sending letters to Tommy Hilfiger, Dickies and Guess to ask them to join the effort to press Grupo Navarra to support a fair vote for union representation and rectify previous labor violations, including unjust dismissals and harassment. See the Action Alert and Sample Letter to the Brands below.

Thank your for your time and effort!
In solidarity,

Paige Shipman
Urgent Appeals Coordinator - Clean Clothes Campaign

______________________________________

Urgent Action Alert
From: Maquila Solidarity Network
Date: November 6, 2007

Tell Tommy Hilfiger, Guess and Dickies: Stop the firings of Mexican jean workers; support their right to a union of their choice.

Over a hundred workers at the Vaqueros Navarra factory in Tehuacan, Mexico have been fired for supporting an independent union. Many more have been harassed and pressured to sign resignation letters by management. Vaqueros Navarra is owned by Grupo Navarra, which owns several garment and laundry facilities in the Tehuacan area and is one of the largest employers in the region.

Some brands that buy from Grupo Navarra, including American Eagle Outfitters, Gap and Warnaco, have responded to the workers’ call for action.

However, brands with the most production in those factories, including Tommy Hilfiger, Guess and Dickies, which produces Workrite uniforms, have so fair failed to do so.

Write to the three hold-out brands today, demanding that they join with other brands in pressing Grupo Navarra to stop the firings and harassment, reinstate all dismissed workers, and support a free and fair
union representation vote without further delay. ____________________________________________________________

SAMPLE LETTER AND ADDRESSES _____________________________________________________________

Craig Birchfield, VP, Central Quality, Sourcing and Compliance Tommy Hilfiger cburchfield@tommy-usa.com [1]

Merrett Cobb, Executive VP, Williamson-Dickie
Mcobb@dickies.com [2]
Larry Wise, Director of Operations, Workrite Uniform company LWise@workrite.com [3]

Stephen L. Pearson, Chief Supply Chain Officer
Guess? Inc.
spearson@guess.com [4]

Dear Misters Birchfield, Cobb, Wise and Pearson:

I am writing in response to disturbing reports that workers at the Vaqueros Navarra factory in Tehuacan, Mexico are being harassed, unjustly dismissed and/or pressured to sign resignation letters for the “crime” of wanting to be represented by a democratic and independent union.

I understand that your company has failed to respond to the workers’ call for action, despite the fact that a third-party investigation carried out at the request of other brands doing business with Grupo Navarra has verified that the violations were taking place.

I would therefore strongly urge your company to join with the brand buyers that are taking positive action in demanding an end to the harassment and unjust dismissals, demanding the immediate reinstatement of all unjustly fired workers and calling on the state labour authorities to hold free and fair union representation vote without further delay.

Sincerely,
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

cc. Lynda Yanz, Coordinator, Maquila Solidartity Network vnresponses@maquilasolidarity.org [5]