<Open Letter to Manson Guitar Works >
Please Support Cor-tex Guitar Workers' Fight for Justice by co-signing here.
http://bit.ly/CortGuitarWorkers
Dear colleagues,
We kindly ask you today to support dismissed Cort Guitar workers' fight for justice, and effort to restore their human dignity. Their 13-year struggle is considered the longest labor-related fight in South Korea, and it's time for it to end.
As of April 10, one of the dismissed workers, LIM Jae-chun, is on his 30th day of a hunger strike in front of the company's headquarters in Korea. We are seriously concerned for his health. Since workers' negotiations with Cort Guitar have reached an impasse, we wrote a letter to Manson Guitar Works, Cort Guitar's UK partner, in hopes they will cooperate.
Should your organization agree with our letter, please sign it here.
You are welcome to share it with any entity that might also be interested.
In solidarity,
International Support Group for Cort Guitar Workers
** Open Letter **
Manson Guitar Works
ATTN: CEO Adrian Ashton
We would like to bring to your attention issues that are underlying the working conditions of your partner in South Korea, Cort Guitar. We are a group of multi-national citizens who support Cort Guitar workers' fight for justice. Their 13-year-struggle is considered 'the longest labor-related fight' in South Korea. We are writing to you in hopes for getting your cooperation and assistance to resolve this matter as soon as possible.
Despite the 13 year effort to reach an agreement, three dismissed workers by Cort are trying their best to win the battle to restore their dignity and careers. They are asking for an apology fromCEO PARK Young-ho, honorable reinstatement to their jobs, and compensation for unjust dismissal. Since negotiations with Mr. PARK have reached an impasse, one of the workers, LIM Jae-chun is doing a hunger strike in front of the Korea headquarters. Today (as of April 2nd) is his 22nd day. We are seriously concerned about his health, as the strike has been going on for some time.
We strongly believe that asking Cort Guitar to respect minimum social responsibility in its business conduct is everyone’s social and moral obligation. Cort guitar's large presence in the world market and cooperation with Manson Guitar Works can only be possible from the accumulated skills of it’s workers. The company's pride, 'five decade of experiences of guitar-making' came in exchange for the pains and sacrifices of the dismissed workers.
Cort workers used to work with pride for delivering the best quality guitar, despite their difficult
working conditions. However, pride alone could not sustain themselves from the dangers of looming industrial disasters, low pay, and extreme labor exploitation. The workers who had been with the company for decades didn't have a choice to organize a labor union to survive. Upon the establishment of its first labor unions, the company responded with massive lay-offs and closure of the factories, despite healthy finances. Cort still ranks as the number one in musical instrument industry in South Korea.
Public opinions for Cort Guitars have been seriously damaged because of CEO PARK's stance of ignoring workers' basic rights and dignity for such a long time. Many musicians and citizens around the world wish this matter to be resolved soon while passionately supporting the workers. We are also in contact with numerous international human rights organizations and foreign press, celebrities to raise the awareness. We are asking you to make a strong suggestion to your Korean partner to reach a deal for the workers. In fact, we believe that timely resolution of the matter will only benefit every party involved.
We hope that the best British guitar-maker, Manson Guitar Works does not keep silent about the outcry of suffering workers, and sets a global standard for socially responsible working conditions throughout its supply chain and business relationships.
Yours in expectation that your excellent judgment as a business dedicated for social responsibility, will result in your positive contribution to a resolution.
http://bit.ly/CortGuitarWorkers
Dear colleagues,
We kindly ask you today to support dismissed Cort Guitar workers' fight for justice, and effort to restore their human dignity. Their 13-year struggle is considered the longest labor-related fight in South Korea, and it's time for it to end.
As of April 10, one of the dismissed workers, LIM Jae-chun, is on his 30th day of a hunger strike in front of the company's headquarters in Korea. We are seriously concerned for his health. Since workers' negotiations with Cort Guitar have reached an impasse, we wrote a letter to Manson Guitar Works, Cort Guitar's UK partner, in hopes they will cooperate.
Should your organization agree with our letter, please sign it here.
You are welcome to share it with any entity that might also be interested.
In solidarity,
International Support Group for Cort Guitar Workers
** Open Letter **
Manson Guitar Works
ATTN: CEO Adrian Ashton
We would like to bring to your attention issues that are underlying the working conditions of your partner in South Korea, Cort Guitar. We are a group of multi-national citizens who support Cort Guitar workers' fight for justice. Their 13-year-struggle is considered 'the longest labor-related fight' in South Korea. We are writing to you in hopes for getting your cooperation and assistance to resolve this matter as soon as possible.
Despite the 13 year effort to reach an agreement, three dismissed workers by Cort are trying their best to win the battle to restore their dignity and careers. They are asking for an apology fromCEO PARK Young-ho, honorable reinstatement to their jobs, and compensation for unjust dismissal. Since negotiations with Mr. PARK have reached an impasse, one of the workers, LIM Jae-chun is doing a hunger strike in front of the Korea headquarters. Today (as of April 2nd) is his 22nd day. We are seriously concerned about his health, as the strike has been going on for some time.
We strongly believe that asking Cort Guitar to respect minimum social responsibility in its business conduct is everyone’s social and moral obligation. Cort guitar's large presence in the world market and cooperation with Manson Guitar Works can only be possible from the accumulated skills of it’s workers. The company's pride, 'five decade of experiences of guitar-making' came in exchange for the pains and sacrifices of the dismissed workers.
Cort workers used to work with pride for delivering the best quality guitar, despite their difficult
working conditions. However, pride alone could not sustain themselves from the dangers of looming industrial disasters, low pay, and extreme labor exploitation. The workers who had been with the company for decades didn't have a choice to organize a labor union to survive. Upon the establishment of its first labor unions, the company responded with massive lay-offs and closure of the factories, despite healthy finances. Cort still ranks as the number one in musical instrument industry in South Korea.
Public opinions for Cort Guitars have been seriously damaged because of CEO PARK's stance of ignoring workers' basic rights and dignity for such a long time. Many musicians and citizens around the world wish this matter to be resolved soon while passionately supporting the workers. We are also in contact with numerous international human rights organizations and foreign press, celebrities to raise the awareness. We are asking you to make a strong suggestion to your Korean partner to reach a deal for the workers. In fact, we believe that timely resolution of the matter will only benefit every party involved.
We hope that the best British guitar-maker, Manson Guitar Works does not keep silent about the outcry of suffering workers, and sets a global standard for socially responsible working conditions throughout its supply chain and business relationships.
Yours in expectation that your excellent judgment as a business dedicated for social responsibility, will result in your positive contribution to a resolution.