“9to5 stands with Garment Workers”

From 2001-2004, Los Angeles garment workers waged a determined campaign to win fair pay and better working conditions.  Leaders formed a Garment Worker Center downtown and began a campaign to pressure local garment manufacturers to stop exploiting workers and to pay fair wages, overtime, breaks, and benefits. 

 

The workers’ strategy was to hold Forever 21, an upscale women’s clothing chain, accountable to the workers who sew the garments they sell. Retailers who profit unfairly from the hard labor of immigrant women working 12-15 hours a day off the books must withdraw contracts from sweatshop manufacturers and demand that fair labor practices are instituted.  The industry that makes 24 Billion a year must be held accountable.

 

 When negotiations broke down, workers called for a boycott of Forever 21 and began weekly picketing. Off stage, workers had taken Forever 21 to court to challenge their role in allowing manufacturers to break labor laws, health and safety regulations. Success came when Forever 21 settled outside court and workers won back pay. The boycott was over!

 

 “Made in L.A.” is an intense drama, as it follows the gripping life stories of three women, immigrant garment workers who lived and struggled through these days.   9to5 was grateful to have Delia Herrera, a volunteer from the Garment Workers Center, answer questions about current conditions in the garment industry at the July 7th film showing. “Things have not changed all that much”, she said, for the 80,000 garment workers in Downtown LA.   “The salary, health, safety and organizing rights of workers in the garment industry are being violated every second. Most still work an average of 10.5 hours a day, are denied their breaks, and receive an average pay of $3 an hour, with no overtime pay. Arbitrary firing is rampant and work is almost never stable. Healthcare is non-existent and verbal abuse is commonplace.”   

9to5 is supporting a Wage Theft Ordinance for the City of Los Angeles that was submitted by City Councilman Richard Alarcon last fall.  This ordinance would stiffen employer penalties from civil violations to felony misdemeanors.

 

For a petition, contact 9to5 Los Angeles at 213-201-7029.  See our website at www.9to5california  for upcoming events in our film series.  Please join us! Si, se peude!

 

To contact the Garment Worker Center, call 213-748-5866 or email:   gwc [at] garmentworkercenter [dot] org  

 

Cathy Deppe, CA Lead Organizer.