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Bridgestone

Last edited by Aman Sidhu on February 1, 2008 - 12:43pm
Company Snapshot: 

Bridgestone Corporation is based in Tokyo, Japan. The largest subsidiary of Bridgestone is the Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc., which is based in Nashville, TN and includes Firestone. The company is most well known for the production of tires. Bridgestone/Firestone has been the focus of an international campaign related to labor and environmental problems on its rubber plantation in Liberia.

Global Fortune 500 position: 
259
Ownership status: 
Publicly traded
Number of employees worldwide: 
123,727
Chief executive officer: 
Shoshi Arakawa, Chairman of the Board, CEO and President
Website: 
http://www.bridgestone.com/
Corporate accountability
Accountability overview: 

Since 1926, Bridgestone's subsidiary, Firestone, has operated a rubber plantation in Liberia which has been characterized by child labor, abuse of workers' rights and environmental damage. The company is the focus of an international campaign called the Stop Firestone campaign. As a result of its abuses in Liberia, Bridgestone was given the Public Eye Award for Worst Global Corporation in January 2007 opposite the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Labor: 

The widespread use of child labor has been reported on Firestone's rubber plantation in Liberia. One of the major causes of child labor is the high production quotas rubber tappers are expected to meet everyday or their low wages are halved. Workers must carry buckets weighing 70 pounds each on a stick on their back and are exposed to toxic pesticides, among many other hazards. Firestone is also currently refusing to recognize a newly and democratically elected union leadership after years of only negotiating with a so-called "yellow" or company union.

Due to its abuse of workers, the company has been the target of a lawsuit by the International Rights Advocates filed in 2005. In June 2007, the judge in Indianapolis ruled against Firestone's motion to dismiss the case and ruled that the case would move forward on child labor claims.

Environment and product safety: 

Firestone has been accused of dumping toxic chemicals directly into the Farmington River in Liberia. The river is used by the local community for bathing and fishing and the pollution has caused health problems both for the population on the plantation as well as the aquatic life. Firestone's most recent Environmental Management Plan for their rubber plantation was rejected by the Liberia Environmental Protection Agency.

Social responsibility: 

Housing for workers on the Firestone rubber plantation in Liberia lack running water, electricity and indoor latrines, despite the fact that managers live in large homes with all of these amenities as well as access to golf courses. While Firestone has just recently begun to update some homes which were built in 1926, the new houses are still lacking in these basic amenities and are only located along the major road in the plantation.

History
Other Information: 

COMPANY WEBSITES:

Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc.: http://www.bridgestone-firestone.com/

Firestone Natural Rubber Company: http://www.firestonenaturalrubber.com/

Resources for Firestone-Liberia campaign:

Financial information
Stock ticker symbol: 
TYO: 5108
Sources
Watchdogs and related campaigns: 
International Rights Advocates
International Labor Rights Forum
AttachmentSize
Firestone_Complaint.pdf2.46 MB
UN Report on Human Rights in Liberia's Rubber Plantations1.4 MB
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