Greetings,

This Christmas, Tell JC Penney, Burlington Coat Factory and Sally Beauty Supply: Don't Harbor Worker Abuse!

Don't let JC Penney, Burlington Coat Factory or Sally Beauty Supply support worker and retiree abuses!

Oak Harbor Freight Lines workers in Oregon, Washington and Idaho were forced to strike on September 22 in protest of the freight company's violations of U.S. labor laws, as well as hostile efforts by the company to intimidate workers. A day later, Oak Harbor took the outrageous step of cutting off health care benefits to its workers and retirees. Instead of negotiating with striking workers in good faith, Oak Harbor has imported teams of professional strikebreakers to coerce and scare loyal long-time employees. Workers have been on strike for more than two months now!

Several of Oak Harbor's largest customers have supported the move to replace striking workers and cut off health care benefits to retirees. REI, Urban Outfitters, and other companies have elected to suspend their relationship with Oak Harbor until the company finds a just and lasting resolution to the ongoing labor dispute. Several faith-based, student, community organizations and global union federations have called on JC Penney, Burlington Coat Factory and Sally Beauty to suspend their relationships with Oak Harbor. Unfortunately, they continue to ignore workers' rights abuses and use Oak Harbor to transport merchandise.

Take action today: Tell JC Penney, Burlington Coat Factory and Sally Beauty Supply: We Won't Stand for Worker Abuse!

Subject: We Won't Stand for Worker Abuse!

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

This Christmas season, I plan to shop at stores that respect workers' rights.

I am writing to express my deep dismay about serious workers' rights violations at Oak Harbor Freight Lines, the company that transports merchandise to your stores in the Western region.

On Monday, September 22, 2008, Oak Harbor Freight Lines workers in Oregon, Washington and Idaho were forced to strike in protest of Oak Harbor's violations of America's labor laws, as well as hostile efforts by company representatives to intimidate workers.

Rather than correcting these violations by negotiating with its employees in good faith, Oak Harbor's owners have hired a notorious strike-breaking consulting firm and imported teams of professional strikebreakers to coerce and scare loyal long-time employees. A report by the International Labor Rights Forum found substantial credible evidence that indicates that Oak Harbor has violated workers' rights by, among other actions, pursuing a premeditated plan to permanently replace employees engaged in a lawful strike, by employing a labor contractor that has behaved in a grossly unethical manner toward replacement workers it has provided to Oak Harbor, and by inflicting significant hardship on retired employees through the termination of health insurance contributions.

Several socially responsible companies, including Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) and Urban Outfitters, have already elected to suspend their relationship with Oak Harbor until the company finds a just and lasting resolution to the ongoing labor dispute. Unfortunately, your company continues to use Oak Harbor to transport merchandise.

Considering these troubling facts, we urge you to join with other socially responsible companies by letting Oak Harbor know that it should resolve its labor dispute and treat its employees fairly.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]