Published: April 07, 2008 11:30 am      

Sweatshop laborers back unions

Phal Savin of Cambodia spent many years sewing clothing for Wal-Mart. A mother of five, she was recently fired for trying to form a union.

She is now vice president of the Coalition of Cambodia Apparel Workers Democratic Union (CCAWDU).

Didier Leiton of Costa Rica worked for 17 years on pineapple and banana plantations and is now an organizer with the Union of Agricultural and Plantation Workers. He has been “blacklisted” by the plantations for his activities with the union.

Both spoke at Goshen College Sunday evening against sweatshops, with their target being large department stores.

Leiton explained to the audience of approximately 60 people that he worked in the plantations for 15 hours a day, without even making minimum wage.

“Pineapples are being produced under cruel conditions, not even acceptable for animals,” Leiton said through a translator.

Savin spent years working in garment factories in Cambodia as a seamstress, and when her working conditions became too unbearable, she decided to form a union, one that is not under control by political parties or government.

“We would work eight hour days, with another two to four hours of overtime that we wouldn’t get paid for,” she said through a translator.

Both took recent visits to the Goshen Wal-Mart to see how the products they made are priced compared to their wages, and their initial thoughts were that while the store was clean with a huge market, the cost of products far exceeds their income. Savin even recognized specific items of clothing she had made herself.

“The price of a shirt is $8, but I earn only $1,” Savin said.

While both said that auditors — people who are hired to make sure no sweatshops are taking place — help the situation, those people do not meet directly with the workers so they do not know how dire the working conditions are.

“Unions are the only way to represent workers so they can have a better quality of life,” Leiton said.

Trina Tocco, program coordinator for the International Labor Rights Forum, said there are several things that people in the United States can do to show support of people facing harsh working conditions.

She suggested communicating directly with factories and writing letters and post cards to the major department stores in question.

“We aren’t saying never go to places like Wal-Mart, just shop with a conscience,” Tocco said.