You don't send me flowers . . .

Idea exchange
February 2004

Koo-koo for fair trade cocoa
You don't send me flowers . . . anymore

You don't send me flowers . . . anymore
And maybe with good reason. According to the International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF), worker treatment in the cut-flower industry is hardly a thing of beauty. There are reports of workers generously dosed with the bouquet of pesticide and of child labor in the cutting fields.

The ILRF asks you to send this sample letter to major U.S. flower retailers to express your concern about child labor and dangerous working conditions in the cut-flower industry.

Dear . . . .

This year on Valentine's Day, many people will be giving flowers to their loved ones. Most of these people do not know, however, that many of the roses and carnations sold in the U.S. are grown on plantations in Colombia and Ecuador where workers develop serious health problems due to their daily contact with toxic chemicals. I am writing to ask that you use your influence as a major cut-flower retailer to promote positive change in working conditions in the cut-flower industry.

Flower workers are exposed to a massive amount of pesticides, twenty percent of which are either banned or unregistered for use in the U.S. because they are extremely toxic and carcinogenic. I am particularly concerned about reports of the use of child labor in this industry. Pesticide use affects children more severely than adults. Many farms claim that they do not use child labor, because they do not directly hire children. However, the production quotas are often so high that workers cannot finish the work in time unless they bring their children in to help them.

The United States is a major importer of flowers from the Andean countries. As a retailer of cut flowers in the US, you are in a position to pressure your Colombian and Ecuadorian suppliers to improve in occupational health and safety conditions in the industry and eliminate the direct and indirect use of child labor. I urge you to take immediate steps to ensure that all of the plantations that supply your company are in compliance with the local labor codes and basic health and safety standards.

At a minimum, this means:

· Abiding by national child labor regulations.
· Providing all flower workers with free waterproof and chemical-resistant protective gear.
· Training all workers in the proper use of chemicals and risk prevention.
· Making sure that all flower workers leave the greenhouses before fumigation occurs.
· Paying workers for overtime and complying with national laws on maximum hours per week.
· Eliminating the practice of discrimination. New workers must not be subjected to illegal pregnancy tests, and pregnancy must not be the basis for firing a worker.

I look forward to receiving a report on what actions your company is taking to use your considerable influence to help eliminate the use of child labor in the cut flower industry and to protect the health of adult flower workers. I understand that the International Labor Rights Fund has contacted you with a request to open discussions on possible collaboration, and I assume that you will be in contact with this organization and cooperate with their efforts to promote positive change.

Sincerely,

For more information:
Behind roses beauty, poor and ill workers

Addresses:

David Murdock
Corporate Headquarters
Dole Food Company
P.O. Box 5132
Westlake Village, CA 91359
Fax: 818-879-6615

H Lee Scott, CEO
Wal-Mart
702 SW Eighth St.
Bentonville, AR 72716
Fax: 479-273-1917

James Sinegal, CEO
Costco
999 Lake Dr.
Issaquah, WA 98027
Fax: 425-313-8103

Steven Burd, CEO
Safeway
5918 Stoneridge Mall Rd
Pleasanton, CA 94588-3229
Fax: 925-467-3230

Lawrence R. Johnston, CEO
Albertson's
250 Parkcenter Blvd.
Boise, ID 83726
Fax: 208-395-6631

Robert Norton, CEO
FTD.COM
3113 Woodcreek Drive
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Fax: 630-719-6170

Back to page top