------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Feb. 14, 2002 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
UNIONS VS. WEF: PROTEST GAP SWEATSHOPS By G. Dunkel New York On Jan. 31, the day that the World Economic Forum opened, 4,000 to 5,000 workers demonstrated at the Gap store on Fifth Avenue, a couple of blocks from the sumptuous Waldorf- Astoria Hotel where the WEF was meeting. The Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, with some help from the New York City Central Labor Council, had called the demonstration to protest how the WEF ignored workers and aimed at globalizing profits, investments and poverty. As one placard put it, "Gap execs earn millions, Gap workers pennies." Sofia Sazo, a textile worker from Guatemala, spoke about the four years she had worked in the Shin Won clothing factory, making garments labeled "Gap." There were 3,000 workers, forced to do unpaid overtime to meet their production quotas, in dirty, crowded shops with bad water. "We suffer," she said, "because they don't treat us like human beings." Besides the speeches in Spanish and English, two were given in Chinese. The chair made a point as the rally ended of saying that this was just the first of many. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
