NAACP and Teamsters Demand Justice From New Era, You Should Too!

The NAACP yesterday validated 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, its products are known to be staple Hip-Hop fashion statements for both musicians and fans.

While both the Teamsters Union and the NAACP state that Major League Baseball should join them in demanding justice from New Era Cap, NAACP Chairman Julian Bond said today that the Civil Rights group will hold off for two weeks before reaching out to MLB because of "some overtures from the company." We look forward to seeing what, if anything will come out of the next couple weeks.

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.

If you are as fed up with New Era as we are, take the time to take some action. Click this link to send a letter to the company and its clients stating you demand justice!

Below are links to other stories about the New Era Cap company's treatment of workers. http://unionreview.com/new-era-cap-turns-dr.-king%E2%80%99s-dream-nightmare
http://unionreview.com/take-action-name-dr.-kling%2C-tell-new-era-cap-we...

We welcome everyone to pick up on this story and post about it at your own blogs; or at least send folks to the story so that they can be lead to the "Take Action" link where concerned people can send a letter directly to this company's CEO.

Thanks for your efforts,
-Teamsters