Workers Appeal for Help as Just Garments Closes

This appeal just came to us from the tireless and wonderful Charles Kernaghan of the National Labor Committee, about the Just Garments factory in El Salvador (covered in an article in the Sept/Oct 2005 issue of D&S); thanks to Jay Blair for alerting us:

Something went terribly wrong at the Just Garments factory in El Salvador, which was set up in 2003, supposedly as a worker cooperative with a strong and vibrant union. According to the workers, neither was true. The mostly women workers were mistreated, forced to work overtime–often unpaid, cheated of their benefits and routinely fired without receiving their legal severance pay. Just Garments management deducted Social Security payments from the workers’ wages, but illegally held the money rather than passing it on to the government. This meant that the workers and their children had to go without healthcare, despite the fact that they were paying for it. It was the same with their pensions: the wage deductions were stolen. Not a single worker who was there when Just Garments opened in 2003 remains. They have either been fired or have quit in disgust over the abusive sweatshop conditions.

See the statement released today in El Salvador, signed by an impressive list of highly respected human rights, women’s and labor organizations.

(The Just Garments workers were afraid to sign the statement, fearing retaliation from Just Garments’ manager, Gilberto Garcia, who was also responsible for setting up the “union” at the factory.)

SEAC International was formed by two Chilean brothers, one of whom was Amnesty International USA’s Advocacy Director for Latin America from 1991 to 2000. With the hope of making a strong and ethical investment and giving a major push to the sweat-free movement, SEAC lent to Just Garments over $87,000 during the course of 2006. Further, it shipped to the factory a container of fabric for the production of shirts.

Click here for more on the promotion of Just Garments/SEAC.

To date, Just Garments has not paid a penny back, and has refused to make arrangements for repayment or admit default. Further, because of the negligence of Just Garments’ customs broker and problems relating to the company’s failure to make necessary Social Security and pensions fund payments, the container was seized by Salvadoran Customs. Just Garments also refused to sign a document that would allow SEAC to rescue its shipment, resulting in the loss of another $60,000.

The Just Garments workers are now asking all of us for help so that they at least receive the back wages and benefits due them–including their Social Security payments and full severance pay.

Please write to Sweatfree Communities asking that money be raised to make these abused workers whole again.

The National Labor Committee is contributing $1,000 to the Just Garments workers. We encourage you to do the same.

Write to:

Sweatfree Communities
30 Blackstone Street
Bangor ME 04401
Tel: 207-262-7277
Fax: 207-262-7211
Bjorn Claeson, executive director

TO DONATE TO THE JUST GARMENTS WORKERS:

(The Salvadoran organizations have requested that the NLC serve as a channel for contributions to the Just Garments workers. You can send a check or donate electronically via the NLC’s website. Every penny received will be sent to the workers, via the Las Dignas organization in El Salvador and you will receive a thank you for your contribution directly from the workers and Las Dignas.)

Fund for Just Garments Workers
c/o National Labor Committee
540 West 48th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10036

tel: 212-242-3002

Click here to donate online.