Thousands of Bridgestone’s Plantation Workers Strike in Liberia
- Non-permanent workers numbering 70,000 start work stoppage
- Firestone commited to returning to negotiation table
A worker on the plantation in 2014.
Photographer: John Moore/Getty ImagesThousands of contract workers of Firestone Liberia LLC started a strike Thursday to protest poor working conditions.
Non-permanent workers want the company to introduce a retirement benefit equal to a month’s wages multiplied by the number of years worked, said Marcus Blamah, an employee and Secretary-General of the National Timber, Wood, Construction & Allied Workers’ Union of Liberia. The workers currently receive no retirement benefit, he said.