California Apparel News

Downtown Los Angeles was bustling with street traffic today where demonstrators, including union workers and community organizers, gathered on Broadway and Olympic as a part of May Day marches taking place around the world. Also known as International Worker’s Day, protestors gathered in an effort to raise awareness around immigration rights.

The annual May Day marches give a voice to those who often feel under-represented, as well as students, artists, musicians and officials who came out to show their support and address pressing issues.

With the garment industry being a driving economical force in Los Angeles, non-profit organizations and representatives of garment employees were present to vocalize their concerns.

Paulina Gonzalez, the executive director of Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) said working in South Los Angeles there is a high percentage of undocumented members so it is important to come out on May Day. “We want to ensure that the Latino population is getting heard and to let officials know we are paying attention,” she said.

“In South Los Angeles, there is a high concentration of garment factories where undocumented workers are often exploited and threatened if they organize for their rights,” expressed Gonzalez, “so coming out today, discussing immigration reform would change all of that.”

Many of SAJE members are youth-based and are advocating on behalf of their parents, wanting to let those on Capital Hill know they are watching what is happening and are standing in solidarity and unison with other organizers said Gonzalez.

For Eulea, who is a seven month member of Garment Workers Center, it is extremely important for her to stand up for worker’s rights. After a “violent dispute” at work, Eulea sought assistance from the GWC center. The garment worker, who specialized in cover stitch, claimed she was not being paid properly by her employer. After complaining to her boss on four different accounts, she said she was assaulted by a company employee, and after calling the police, she was arrested.

Marisa Nuncio, director of the GWC, said her role is to help members like Eulea seek justice and also support the organizing efforts of the garment workers center. “We are dedicated in creating a space where workers can come and collectively take action to improve working conditions in the factory." she said.

The non-profit that was initiated in 2001 has always attended the May Day march. “We are out here today because there is an issue of exploitation in the garment industry. We think it is extremely important to highlight that the garment industry is far from what it should be and while it is a very viable industry and important and a profitable industry to brands that produce here, unfortunately working conditions can be dismal. Fact is 60 percent of garment workers do not get minimum wage, while 90 percent do not get their over time – and it is unacceptable,” Nuncio said.

And so it is important for many demonstrators to speak about these issues and be a part of that global conversation for workers rights.

“Last week in Bangladesh, over 200 workers died in a factory collapse and this shows that not valuing workers is not just a local concern but a global one,” Nuncio said.