Justice for Monster Cable Workers! Letter from United Students against sweatshops

[Omaha Steve]

Click here to take action: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/monster_cable?rk=XpL0g761ZXuqE

monster cable

On Oct. 20, 2006, Monster Cable Products, Inc. laid off over 120 production workers from their Brisbane facility, outsourcing their jobs to low-wage labor overseas to increase profits and offered only a fraction of the severance pay given to workers in the past. The company is a highly profitable company which sells high end audiovisual cables, home theater equipment, etc. The laid-off workers are mostly monolingual middle-aged Chinese, Vietnamese, Latino, and Eastern European immigrants who worked an average of over 8 years and as many as 20 years for the company. Laid off workers want a just severance as with previous laid off workers and want the company to address their long term unemployment issues by contributing to a Community-Worker Transition Fund.

Over 120 laid off production workers, mostly monolingual middle-aged Chinese, Vietnamese, Latino, and Eastern European immigrants, who worked an average of over 8 years and as many as 20 years for the company were only offered a fraction of the severance pay given to workers in the past. These workers in their 40s-50s will not be able to find stable employment.



The letter:

Dear < Decision Maker >,

I am writing today to express my deep outrage over the recent layoffs of the 120 Monster Cable workers in the Brisbane, California production facility and to support the demands of the laid off workers. As you prosper and your corporate profits grow from outsourcing jobs, you have a corporate responsibility to the future of these laid off workers, many of who helped to build the company to what it is today. These workers are middle aged Asian and Latino immigrants who will not be able to find stable employment. It is only fair to provide a just severance and community fund for these workers.
Your company, Monster Cable Products, Inc. is a highly profitable company that produces high-end audio cables and other AV accessories with annual sales up to an estimated $1 billion; in addition, it has $5.5 million in over 40 luxury company cars. You have also spent $6 million to name "Monster Park" (formerly known as Candlestick Park in San Francisco). Providing a just severance- as with past layoffs- is the least you can do to help address their unemployment needs. Laid-off workers are also demanding that the company contribute to the community which has been so severely impacted by mass unemployment.

For months, workers and community supporters have petitioned for a just severance and community fund all without avail. This has sparked a boycott of Monster Cable products and the support of many consumers, labor unions, community groups, musicians, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and US Congressman Tom Lantos. There is growing support from the community and consumers that buy your products. Mr. Lee, it is time to do the right thing and support the demands of your laid-off workers.


Sincerely,