PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release July 1,2000
Contact Persons:

Michael Lee
National Communications Officer
National Communications Office Missouri Prisoners Labor Union
convict78@hotmail.com
2435 E. North St PMB 255
Greenville, SC 29615

Jerome White Bey #37479
President
Potosi Correctional Institution
Rt. 2 Box 2222 (3a-46)
Mineral Point, MO 63660

Bruce Cummings #36911
National Representative
Jefferson City Correctional Center
P.O. Box 900
Jefferson City, MO 65102

Sheik Mark Moor-El #990115
National Coordinator
Jefferson City Correctional Center
P.O. Box 900
Jefferson City, MO 65102

SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE BOYCOTT COLGATE PALMOLIVE

The Missouri Prisoners Labor Union (MPLU) announced today that it is initiating an
international boycott against all products produced either directly or
indirectly by Colgate Palmolive

This action is being taken in response to Colgate Palmolive’s failure to provide a letter of
endorsement in support of the Missouri Prisoners Labor Union and /or aims and
objectives for three points which are summarized as follows:

  1. The establishment of minimum wage pay for all Missouri Prisoners.
  2. Abolishing all forced labor and abuse perpetrated by the Missouri Department of Corrections in particular and the State Government in general.
  3. Colgate Palmolive’s active involvement in persuading the State of Missouri Legislature to impose a Bill of Moratorium on all executions of Prisoners in the State of Missouri.
In a letter to Colgate Palmolive spokesperson Bill F. Shanahan, MPLU National Communications
Officer Michael Lee stated “Let me reassure you that neither myself or
anyone directly associated with the Missouri Prisoners Labor Union has any intention
of causing physical harm to either you personally or Colgate Palmolive
employees -property. Our tactic is to simply fold our arms and turn a blind eye to your
products.” The letter goes on to reiterate what MPLU elected leadership stated in their
06-04-00 letter to Colgate Palmolive “...we realize that your company didn’t put
us in prison. This is a matter of Colgate Palmolive reaping immense profits for our
incarceration and as the largest single consumer block you have a social obligation
to us. The situation I am outlining, is the same argument organized labor has
used to oppose sweat shop labor employed by Kathy Lee Gifford, Nike, etc. I would
also like to add that we are not asking for anything from society except that we be
treated in a fair manner as defined by the United States Constitution and numerous legal
cases. We are not advocating for a cushy life style but simply a fair days pay for a fair days
work and a safe, non-abusive work environment.”

The MPLU is a 500 member organization which was created by Prisoners and supporters. It
was legally chartered by the State of Missouri on August 3, 1998. It is our desire to
better the living and working conditions of Missouri Prisoners in particular and two
million United States Prisoners in general. We provide Prisoners a much needed political
forum from which to promote the principles of social justice, economic and
political issues confronting Missouri Prisoners and workers. Our commitment to
non-violence has been demonstrated continuously. One of the linchpin principles of the MPLU
is that there is nothing more powerful then a worker with arms folded refusing
to pick up tools or perform any labor.

Since our inception, members have been subjected to all forms of abuse and harassment
propagated by the Missouri Department of Corrections. On February 17, 2000 President
White-Bey was finally released from Administrative Segregation (the hole) after being
confined there for almost two years. His offense was simply to advocate that as
workers we have the right to organize and the Human and Civil Rights of Prisoners
must be respected . Presently several of our members still remain in the hole
and are subjected to daily abuse. But the Union rolls on!

In this campaign we focus on calling for a moritorium on the continued use of the death
penalty specifically in the State of Missouri and across the United States in general. It is
our great concern that if the State has such tremendous power to excute someone then
it has the power to perpetrate any abuse on our membership simply for demanding a
fair days pay for a fair days work. Continual use of the death penalty is a human rights
violation and an ineffective manner in which to combat anti-social behavior.

For the first time in history Prisoners who do not face the ultimate punishment are calling
for a moritorium on its use. We do so as part of our social responsibility as an
organization of economic self-defense and in defense of the
Human and Civil Rights of all Prisoners.

As of July 1,200 we are requesting that all Prisoners and their family/friends, MPLU members
and our supporters to non-violently decline to purchase Colgate Palmolive. In
support of our efforts we have requested that all members of organized labor, peace
and social justice activists and the NAACP to also refrain from purchasing Colgate
Palmolive products until at such time our demands are met.
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