The NAACP validated yesterday what we've been saying all along about New Era Cap Company; that it finds New Era in gross violation of workers' basic Civil Rights.
We joined NAACP Chairman Julian Bond and Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. where they delivered a joint press conference announcing the NAACP’s full report: Racial Discrimination, Repression and Retaliation at New Era Cap. The report documents conditions that include a lack of promotion of experienced black workers; poverty-level wages with significant differences in pay between black and white workers; and a fierce, retaliatory anti-union campaign, in the course of which more than 20 workers were terminated. Despite these tactics employed by the company, New Era’s 111 Mobile, Alabama workers voted last July to join the Teamsters.
New Era is the exclusive manufacturer of Major League Baseball caps. The company also has contracts with a number of college programs throughout the United States; in addition, its products are known to be staple Hip-Hop fashion statements for both musicians and fans.
Mr. Hoffa reminded reporters that the workers went out to organize with Teamsters Local 991 stating that the black workers were held to worse conditions than white workers. "New Era portrays itself as a social responsible company, but they talk the talk and not walk the walk," said Mr. Hoffa. "New Era’s management tactics in Mobile date back to the bad old days of the Old South, or the factory systems of the turn of the century," Mr. Hoffa said. "They have no place in today’s America. And they have no place in the company that makes the official team caps for the All-American pastime."
Some Background: * New Era Cap, founded in 1920, is privately owned by the Koch family, which has owned the company for four generations. The CEO is Mr. Chris Koch. * The company makes over 30 million caps a year and is the leading licensed headwear company in the world. * Black workers at New Era Cap in Mobile are being passed over for promotion and paid less than white workers. There are currently at least two pending charges with the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission against New Era Cap. * Between April and December 2007, New Era engaged in a vicious anti-union campaign in their Mobile facility. They held anti-union meetings, distributed anti-union literature and the NLRB is now investigating charges that the company illegally interrogated, intimidated and terminated workers during the union's organizing campaign. During the course of the organizing campaign, New Era Cap terminated more than 20 workers.
Our combined efforts are working! Yesterday afternoon it was also announced that the University of Wisconsin at Madison canceled its contract with New Era based on our findings.
"We decided that New Era is just not a company that we want to continue to do business with," said Dawn Crim, an aide to UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley. "We are a university that says we want to make sure the best possible conditions are set up. This company just doesn't appear to be able to really be the type of partner that we are looking for."
She said the university received similar allegations of abusive practices in 2002 but allowed the company to stay on board after problems were resolved. That history also played a role in the decision, she said.
We are under the impression that more of these canceled contracts with New Era clients will be announced over the coming days and weeks.
You can watch a local news station’s coverage of this announcement at this link: http://www.c3ktogo.com/...
Earlier in the day today we dedicated another page of the Teamster website to this campaign. At that page you can access past articles on this campaign and the Take Action link. If you haven't already, please send a note to the CEO of New Era and tell him that you, like us, Demand Justice for these workers.
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