Queen Phinizee
Queen Phinizee is a 39 year old woman, who has know first hand what is like working at a sweatshop. For 21 years she has been working as a sewing machine operator, and has managed to make a good living. But, all that changed when she started working a company named American Power Source, a little over a year ago. Now she can hardly make ends meet. She has lost her home and depends on charity funds to help pay for medical expenses among other things. Though she works long hours, she can’t seem to make enough money. Queen isn’t the only one suffering. A report published by UNITE HERE, detail the abuse workers like her have to endure. The company has had major pay cuts, increase in production, many workers have to work long overtime, and unsafe working conditions with accidents going without recognition. What makes this sad, is that this is close to home. This isn’t a claim in South America, it’s here in the United States. Sweatshops are not fantasy stories in countries you are never gonna visit. They are very much, in American cities around you.
www.behindthelabel.org
Add comment October 22, 2007 spiffytiffysue
June 25, 2007
On June 25, 2007 a raid on a Bedford maufacturing company led to 361 undocumented workers being arrested. Among these were 3 underaged workers. These workers recieved small wages and often worked overtime without pay. Their wages were docked for tardiness, taking to long in the restrooms, and for just talking on the job. They were sent to prisons in Texas and New Mexico while waiting for legal action to take place.
www.behindthelabel.org
1 comment October 22, 2007 spiffytiffysue
FIRE
On March 25, 1911 a fire broke out in the Triangle Waist Company. It killed 146 workers, some as young as 15, and helped raised awareness of the inhumane treatment of factory workers at the time. When the fire broke out on the top floor of the building many rushed to the exits only to find them locked, because the employers believed that the workers stole goods. When the doors didn’t open they then went to the fire escape, which didn’t lead to anywhere, and bent under the weight of the workers. Some of the wome chose to wait by the windows until the fire department came to rescue them, but the cherry pickers couldn’t reach the top floor and the water from houses came nowhere near them. Escape seemingly impossible, many chose to jump out of the windows to their deaths, then stay and be burned alive. This is just an example of how little employers cared about the employees under their care. These unsafe working conditions were in almost all of the factories, but this incident helped push for saftey rules and better working conditions.
Add comment October 14, 2007 spiffytiffysue
The Beginning
Back in the 1800′s most clothing had to be made by hand, therefore there was always a need for seamtresses. These women sat at home sewing most of the day, usually 16 hours, and were paid by the piece. These women were never paid enough for the hours they worked, and shop owners often tried to find something wrong with the garmet so they didn’t have to pay them. These women were just the first to experience the hard working conditions of sweatshops. As times in America got harder, and demand for ready-to-wear clothing grew, many families had to enlist their children to help make money for the family. These children had jobs in mines, factories, or on farms. Many of these children did not survive the harse conditions of the sweatshops. Though thanks to people such as Hine, Lewis Wickes, child labour was banned in America.
1 comment October 14, 2007 spiffytiffysue
Sweatshops
As you may know, a sweatshop is usually a factory where the environment in undesirable. Usually it’s workers have long shifts, often with no breaks, and very low wages. These factories usually set up factories in poor areas, knowing that the people will take the jobs no matter the conditions. In most cases there are even children working in these factories. To decrease cost, most cases don’t follow the safety procautions that are mandantory in the U.S., which leads to more serious injuries occurring. You might be thinking, I would never support such a thing, but do you know where your favorite shirt was made. Or, how about those $89.00 pair Nikes that you just had to have. In order for you to get your dream shoe, some little girl in Latin America was being worked to the bone. You may not realize it, but there are more and more American Factories that are using sweatshops to decrease their costs. So the next time you go shopping, make sure you know who is really making your clothes.
Add comment October 14, 2007 spiffytiffysue
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