On May 2, 2016 the Garment Worker Center launched a campaign against Ross Stores, Inc. with a worker-led delegation to a prominent Ross store, in Downtown LA demanding an end to sweatshop practices in the factories they use. Ross is responsible for sweatshop conditions because it pays a contract price for its garment orders that is half of what is necessary to for producers to comply with local wage and hours laws. Garment workers producing for Ross in LA are making as low as $5 per hour with no guaranteed overtime or rest breaks.
Read Dept. of Labor Press Release on Ross here.
LA GARMENT WORKERS DEMAND: “ROSS, MAKE LA SWEATSHOP FREE!”
1) Fair Wages: Ross must ensure that the minimum wage, overtime pay, paid sick leave, and rest and meal breaks are respected in factories producing its clothing. Ross must accept responsibility for the rampant abuse of the piece rate system by paying a sufficient contract price for the garments produced in its LA suppliers. Ross must actively work with manufacturers to ensure good salaries for garment workers.
2) Health and Safety: Ross must ensure safe and clean working conditions at the factories it uses, which includes a workplace free from pest infestations, with adequate ventilation, clean drinking water and clean bathrooms.
3) Monitor improvements: Ross must work with the the local and federal government, labor organizations, and the Garment Worker Center to ensure that conditions in factories producing their clothing improve. This means opening supplier factories to regular audits by independent, worker led investigations.
4) Collectively Bargain: Ross must ensure that garment workers have the right to collectively bargain for good working conditions and fair pay with their employers free from retaliation.
5) End cutting and running: Ross must commit to make LA sweatshop free, which means maintaining production in Los Angeles and ensuring good working conditions and living wages in the factories they use. Ross must recognize that cutting and running from sweatshops only drives wages and conditions further down.
What can you do to support the campaign?
- Sign onto our demand letter and tell Ross to work with Garment Worker Center to negotiate an agreement that will cut sweatshops out of its supply chain. (LINK PENDING)
- Deliver a letter to a Ross store near you
- Downloadable SAMPLE letter
- Downloadable flyer
- Host LA Garment Worker Center Presentation at your school or organization
- Contact info for Mar Martinez mmartinez@garmentworkercenter.org
- Sign on to the Make LA Sweatshop Free Plan Letter
- Link to Sign on (LINK PENDING)
- Join our Next Action! Stay informed and join our listserv or like us on Facebook for info on our next action.