news campaigns get active background press contact

Donate to the GWC!

Agreement Reached with Forever 21
Forever 21, Inc., the Garment Worker Center, Sweatshop Watch, and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, on behalf of several Los Angeles garment workers represented by it, have reached an agreement to resolve all litigation between them. In addition, the parties have agreed to take steps to promote greater worker protection in the local garment industry. The parties are pleased to announce the resolution of this matter as a positive and symbolic step forward in demonstrating respect and appreciation for garment workers. Under the parties’ agreement, the national boycott of Forever 21 and related protests at the Company’s retail stores, initiated by the Garment Worker Center in 2001, have ended. The parties share a belief that garment workers should labor in lawful conditions and should be treated fairly and with dignity. Forever 21, the Garment Worker Center and Sweatshop Watch all remain committed to ensuring that the clothing Forever 21 sells in its stores is made under lawful conditions.

TELL THESE 4 COMPANIES TO STOP PERPETUATING SWEATSHOPS!

Click “Read More” to find ways to fight sweatshop conditions behind these labels: Forever 21, Tarrant Apparel Group, DKNY, and Sara Lee Corp

1. Forever 21—Support Los Angeles garment workers and BOYCOTT Forever 21! Call, write, or organize a picket at a local store.

Do Won Chang, President
Forever 21
2001 S. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA 90058
213-747-5100

For information, go to the Campaigns page.


2. Tarrant Apparel Group--In Puebla, Mexico hundreds of workers are seeking union recognition and the reinstatement of 3 union leaders fired at the Tarrant -Ajalpan factory or the payment of severance pay to these workers. The garment workers are pressuring the major clients of the Tarrant Apparel Group (TAG), which co-owns the factory and others in the region. Contact the two companies directly below. Tell them to keep production and work at TAG factories but use their influence to make TAG recognize the workers’ union (SUITTAR) and reinstate all fired employees. Retailers must be held accountable for the conditions under which their clothes are made! For more information on the Tarrant campaign check out: www.sweatshopwatch.org.

Terry Lundgren, Chair
Federated Department Stores
7 West 7th Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.579.7000

Peter Whitford, CEO
The Wet Seal
26972 Burbank Drive
Foothill Ranch, CA 92610
peter.whitford@wetseal.com
800.735.7325


3. Sara Lee Corp--Chicago-based Sara Lee Corp. owns and operates two factories of its Hanes clothing brand in Monclova, Mexico. The workers have organized:
* so that the rights as women be respected
* to choose their own union
* to have a safe workplace
* to be paid a living wage
Sara Lee, however, has not respected the workers. For example, Sara Lee fired 5 women who presented a petition to the plant manager of its Confecciones de Montclova in Mexico demanding payment of all the workers legally required annual bonus.

For more information go to: www.communitiesunitedforpeople.org/enlace.

Support the workers by contacting:

C. Steven McMillan, President & CEO
Sara Lee Corporation
550 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10018
312.558.8547 * 312.345.5730 (fax)


4. DKNY--DKNY finally paid New York garment workers their owed wages, but this company cut and ran, moving production to Toronto. Support the workers in their continued GIRLCOTT of Donna Karen New York to get this brand to return to NYC! For more information go to: www.nmass.org/nmass/aiw/aiw.

Be active by calling or writing:
Donna Karan
Donna Karen International
550 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10018
212.789.1500 ext. 8