Claim: “Firestone Liberia is currently shut down due to bad labor practices within the company.”
Source: Vandalark R. Patricks, Chief Executive Officer of Campaigners For Change International, and a 2023 Senatorial Candidate of Margibi.
Verdict: Correct! Firestone Rubber Plantation is temporarily shut down due to the Worker Union's ongoing strike.
Full Text: Vandalark R. Patricks, Chief Executive Officer of Campaigners For Change International, posted on his official Facebook page claiming that Firestone Rubber Plantation is temporarily shut down due to an ongoing strike carried out by the Workers Union against bad labor practices.
The post, which generated 50 likes, 31 comments, and 6 shares, drew the attention of many people who called on the government of Liberia to intervene.
Firestone's operation in Liberia can be traced to the early 20th century, when an exploratory group from the Firestone tire and rubber company went in search of a location to grow and process natural rubber for tire manufacturing. The company entered into its first agreement with the government of Liberia in 1926. As one of the country’s largest private employers and taxpayers, the company focuses on economic opportunity, education, health rights, and critical environmental protections.
Verification: To authenticate this claim, we contacted Amanda M. Hill, Communications Manager of Firestone Rubber Plantation. Hill acknowledged that the company is temporarily shut down due to an ongoing strike by the Worker Union.
Responding to the claim in a press release, Hill disclosed that on January 29, 2025, Marcus S. Blamah, General Secretary at the National Timber Wood, Construction, and Allied Workers Union of Liberia, the mother union for the Firestone Workers Union of Liberia, called a strike action for workers of Firestone Liberia to take effect today, January 30, 2025.
The release said the management has been negotiating with FAWUL on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) since September 2024 and has participated in mediation talks that included the Ministry of Labor.
Hill said the management has not been able to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement with NTWCAWU and FAWUL and that they have determined to initiate a work stoppage but it remains committed to resolving the differences.
He added that they have informed the Chairman of Margibi County Caucus and the Ministry of Labor about the strike action to help The Worker Union enable the employees to return to work.
Conclusion: With the communication sent to us by the Communications Department of Firestone acknowledging the strike and calling for employees to return to work, we can confirm that Mr. Patrick's claim is correct.
By: Patrick G. Moryor, Margibi Fellow
By: Patrick G. Moryor, Margibi Fellow
