Saturday, December 6, 2008
Liberty Workers Fight Back- Press Conference & Rally on Nov. 18th, 2008 in NYC
AFTER 9-YEAR DELAY GARMENT SWEATSHOP WORKERS Demand manufacturer Liberty Apparel and owner Albert Nigri pay for years of underpaid wages
This video is from a Press Conference & Demonstration, held on Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 in front of the Liberty Apparel Showroom @ 1407 Broadway, between 38th & 39th Streets
Workers labored over 80 hours a week for less than $3/hr in the Chinatown factories
under Liberty Apparel’s supervision. At times they worked without any pay for
months. Liberty Apparel representatives promised workers they would receive their
pay as soon as they finished sewing the clothing. Instead the factories suddenly
closed down in 1999, still owing 26 workers hundreds of thousands of dollars in
unpaid wages and overtime. Since then, Liberty Apparel has been using the court to
drag out the case and delay responsibility. Still today, owner Albert Nigri has
continued to reap profits by using well-known sweatshops to produce garments for
their Liberty Apparel and Pretty Girl labels. This year marks the 9th dismal year
where scrooge Albert Nigri is ruining the holiday season for workers and their
families that are struggling to get by.
The case against Liberty Apparel will set a legal precedent for the garment industry
as a whole, where larger companies use subcontracting to evade liability.
Furthermore, it will set an example for large companies in the increasing number of
subcontracted industries. Liberty Apparel workers along with Rep. Nydia Velazquez,
State Senator Tom Duan
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Tuesday, Nov. 18th Garment Women Rally vs. Liberty Apparel & Sweatshop Subcontracting System
The Ain't I a WOMAN?! Campaign
Garment Women Rally vs. Liberty Apparel & Sweatshop Subcontracting System
November 18th at 12pm noon
In front of the Liberty Apparel showroom, 1407 Broadway btw 38th & 39th St. (1,2,3,N,Q,R,S,W to Times Square)
Dear Friends and Supporters,
On behalf of the Ain't I A Woman?! Campaign, we would like to ask for your support of the garment workers suing their manufacturer Liberty Apparel for egregious labor violations. After 9 long years, finally the Liberty Apparel workers have a day in court.
Twenty six workers labored 80 plus hours a week sewing garments for Liberty Apparel in a factory named 103 Fashion for several years without days off or sick leave. Workers were repeatedly misled by Liberty Apparel and the subcontractor. Liberty representatives, including the owner, Albert Nigri, were aware of the violations since they were often in the factory and promised workers they would be paid if they rushed to meet tighter deadlines. In early 1999, the subcontractor closed the shop and ran away, leaving workers without four to six entire months of pay. After the shop closed, Liberty Apparel never kept their promise, and refused to take responsibility.
In August 1999, workers filed a lawsuit against Liberty Apparel. However, the manufacturer has used the court to drag out the case and avoid responsibility. To this day, the manufacturer is still using well-known sweatshops in Chinatown and Brooklyn's Sunset Park to produce clothing for Liberty Apparel and their other company, Pretty Girl. This example shows how employers use the subcontracting system to evade responsibility for their bad working conditions.
On May 30th, 2008 Judge Richard Sullivan issued a court decision rejecting Liberty Apparel's attempt to dismiss the case. In his decision, the judge found that a manufacturer did not need direct control over the factory in order to be held responsible. For more information on the decision go to: http://aintiawoman.org/Liberty/Liberty.html This case has a reverberating impact on working people throughout this country who toil within the subcontracting system. This decision, if won, would be an important victory for all working people, especially for low-income women, immigrants, and people of color who make up the majority of subcontracted workers in not only the garment industry, but also in construction, janitorial and office cleaning services, high tech, temp office work, freelancing, accounting, home healthcare, meatpacking, food services, and data processing. Now with this new decision, we want to take this opportunity to come together and fight against the abusive subcontracting system
Workers are holding a rally in the middle of New York City's Garment District where many manufacturers' showrooms are located.
Workers and supporters will speak of the problems with current Federal and State law, to expose the sweatshop subcontracting system and to call for change. A victory for Liberty Apparel workers will bring us closer towards ending the rampant lawlessness in the garment industry.
We urge you to lend your support by spreading the word about the impact of this important campaign and by promoting stronger legislation for manufacturer accountability. We invite you to help us plan the upcoming November 18th rally.
If you plan to attend the rally or are interested participating in the campaign, please call Betty Yu at 212-334-2333 or e-mail us at info@aintiawoman.org. You may also visit the campaign website at http://aintiawoman.org/index.html. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely Yours,
Ling Nan Zheng
CSWA Board Member &
Liberty Apparel Workers' Representative
Pilar Alvarado
Organizer, National Mobilization Against Sweatshops
Garment Women Rally vs. Liberty Apparel & Sweatshop Subcontracting System
November 18th at 12pm noon
In front of the Liberty Apparel showroom, 1407 Broadway btw 38th & 39th St. (1,2,3,N,Q,R,S,W to Times Square)
Dear Friends and Supporters,
On behalf of the Ain't I A Woman?! Campaign, we would like to ask for your support of the garment workers suing their manufacturer Liberty Apparel for egregious labor violations. After 9 long years, finally the Liberty Apparel workers have a day in court.
Twenty six workers labored 80 plus hours a week sewing garments for Liberty Apparel in a factory named 103 Fashion for several years without days off or sick leave. Workers were repeatedly misled by Liberty Apparel and the subcontractor. Liberty representatives, including the owner, Albert Nigri, were aware of the violations since they were often in the factory and promised workers they would be paid if they rushed to meet tighter deadlines. In early 1999, the subcontractor closed the shop and ran away, leaving workers without four to six entire months of pay. After the shop closed, Liberty Apparel never kept their promise, and refused to take responsibility.
In August 1999, workers filed a lawsuit against Liberty Apparel. However, the manufacturer has used the court to drag out the case and avoid responsibility. To this day, the manufacturer is still using well-known sweatshops in Chinatown and Brooklyn's Sunset Park to produce clothing for Liberty Apparel and their other company, Pretty Girl. This example shows how employers use the subcontracting system to evade responsibility for their bad working conditions.
On May 30th, 2008 Judge Richard Sullivan issued a court decision rejecting Liberty Apparel's attempt to dismiss the case. In his decision, the judge found that a manufacturer did not need direct control over the factory in order to be held responsible. For more information on the decision go to: http://aintiawoman.org/Liberty/Liberty.html This case has a reverberating impact on working people throughout this country who toil within the subcontracting system. This decision, if won, would be an important victory for all working people, especially for low-income women, immigrants, and people of color who make up the majority of subcontracted workers in not only the garment industry, but also in construction, janitorial and office cleaning services, high tech, temp office work, freelancing, accounting, home healthcare, meatpacking, food services, and data processing. Now with this new decision, we want to take this opportunity to come together and fight against the abusive subcontracting system
Workers are holding a rally in the middle of New York City's Garment District where many manufacturers' showrooms are located.
Workers and supporters will speak of the problems with current Federal and State law, to expose the sweatshop subcontracting system and to call for change. A victory for Liberty Apparel workers will bring us closer towards ending the rampant lawlessness in the garment industry.
We urge you to lend your support by spreading the word about the impact of this important campaign and by promoting stronger legislation for manufacturer accountability. We invite you to help us plan the upcoming November 18th rally.
If you plan to attend the rally or are interested participating in the campaign, please call Betty Yu at 212-334-2333 or e-mail us at info@aintiawoman.org. You may also visit the campaign website at http://aintiawoman.org/index.html. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely Yours,
Ling Nan Zheng
CSWA Board Member &
Liberty Apparel Workers' Representative
Pilar Alvarado
Organizer, National Mobilization Against Sweatshops
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Watch the "Workers Fight Liberty Apparel" Video
10 minutes (2005)--Since 1999, 26 garment workers have been organizing to hold Liberty Apparel Manufacturer accountable for the labor law violations in its' factory name "103 Fashion" in NYC. Workers toiled for 13 to 14 hours a day, 7 days a week making less than minimum wage and not getting their overtime pay. This video follows Ling Nan, the lead organizer in the case against Liberty Apparel. 9 years later the worker are still waiting for justice.
Good News! Liberty Apparel Workers have a day in court after 9 long years!
Good News! After 9 long years, finally Liberty Apparel workers have a day in court.
On May 30th, Judge Richard Sullivan issued a court decision rejecting Liberty Apparel’s attempt to dismiss the case. (A copy of the decision is on our website at www.aintiawoman.org.) In his decision, the judge found that a manufacturer did not need direct control over the factory in order to be held responsible.
26 workers sewed garments for Liberty Apparel in a factory named 103 Fashion for several years. The Liberty Apparel subcontractor had been forcing workers to meet deadlines by working 7 days a week, 13 to 14 hours a day. They often worked so hard, they had no day off for months. Workers were repeatedly misled by Liberty Apparel and the subcontractor that they would get paid if they finished the work for Liberty Apparel on time. In early 1999, the subcontractor closed the shop without any notice and ran away, leaving workers without 4 to 6 entire months of pay. After the shop closed, Liberty Apparel never kept their promise, and refused responsibility. In August 1999, workers filed a lawsuit against Liberty Apparel.
Since the original judge’s wrongful decision on the case in 2002, the labor law in the garment industry has been unenforceable, and has drastically deteriorated work conditions. It has allowed manufacturers to push the contract price down without any precaution, leaving workers with no recourse. Wages in the New York garment industry have gotten so low that no citizen can survive, and many skilled workers have been forced to find jobs in other industries. It has also forced a lot of high-quality production to leave New York for California or Canada.
Now with Judge Richard Sullivan’s new decision, your participation is urgently needed. Let’s come together to strike a blow against the abusive subcontracting system. A victory for Liberty Apparel workers will bring us closer towards ending the rampant lawlessness in the garment industry.
Liberty Apparel workers are tireless, and refuse to be discouraged by this mockery of a legal process. Before the court date on October 27, 2008, they are calling for a rally on September 30th in front of the Liberty Apparel showroom, located in the middle of New York Garment District, to raise people’s understanding about the weakness of current Federal and State law, to expose the sweatshop-subcontracting system and to call for change.
On May 30th, Judge Richard Sullivan issued a court decision rejecting Liberty Apparel’s attempt to dismiss the case. (A copy of the decision is on our website at www.aintiawoman.org.) In his decision, the judge found that a manufacturer did not need direct control over the factory in order to be held responsible.
26 workers sewed garments for Liberty Apparel in a factory named 103 Fashion for several years. The Liberty Apparel subcontractor had been forcing workers to meet deadlines by working 7 days a week, 13 to 14 hours a day. They often worked so hard, they had no day off for months. Workers were repeatedly misled by Liberty Apparel and the subcontractor that they would get paid if they finished the work for Liberty Apparel on time. In early 1999, the subcontractor closed the shop without any notice and ran away, leaving workers without 4 to 6 entire months of pay. After the shop closed, Liberty Apparel never kept their promise, and refused responsibility. In August 1999, workers filed a lawsuit against Liberty Apparel.
Since the original judge’s wrongful decision on the case in 2002, the labor law in the garment industry has been unenforceable, and has drastically deteriorated work conditions. It has allowed manufacturers to push the contract price down without any precaution, leaving workers with no recourse. Wages in the New York garment industry have gotten so low that no citizen can survive, and many skilled workers have been forced to find jobs in other industries. It has also forced a lot of high-quality production to leave New York for California or Canada.
Now with Judge Richard Sullivan’s new decision, your participation is urgently needed. Let’s come together to strike a blow against the abusive subcontracting system. A victory for Liberty Apparel workers will bring us closer towards ending the rampant lawlessness in the garment industry.
Liberty Apparel workers are tireless, and refuse to be discouraged by this mockery of a legal process. Before the court date on October 27, 2008, they are calling for a rally on September 30th in front of the Liberty Apparel showroom, located in the middle of New York Garment District, to raise people’s understanding about the weakness of current Federal and State law, to expose the sweatshop-subcontracting system and to call for change.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)