On 6 February 2006 6000 workers at the Bridgestone/Firestone rubber plantation in Harbel, Liberia, walked out on wildcat strike in protest at low pay, poor conditions, child labour and union corruption.
4000 of the workers were casual tappers, who were required to tap 650 trees per day in return for payment of US$3.38. The pace of work was such that workers can only meet their quota by using their children to help them work. Workers also complained of lack of democracy in their union, the Firestone Agricultural Workers Union of Liberia (FAWUL), and the union withholding union dues.
One worker, Lawrence Tamba, 57, told IRIN News: “We are living in the plantation beyond human imagination... Most of the housing units us tappers live in are dilapidated.”
On February 9, it was reported that the strike had been suspended, but workers then occupied their union office and demanded a change in union leadership.
The strike was eventually called off after two weeks, after President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf intervened and mediated an agreement from Firestone to build better housing, and more schools and clinics for workers and their families.
Firestone workers would walk out again the following year.
Liberia Firestone strike - WCH | Stories
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