The Rapid Response Network has been offering solidarity from the US and around the world to support Haitian workers and peasants organized with Batay Ouvriye since 2012. This has often taken the form of pressure campaigns to amplify the voice and demands of workers and peasants against major global brands, factory owners, and big landowners
While people all over the globe have been forced to face the challenges of COVID-19, workers at several of Alain Villard’s garment factories in Haiti are particularly vulnerable to the virus and its effects. The death of Sandra René, a decade-long employee of Palm Apparel in Carrefour, exposed the bald corruption of Villard when OFATMA
SAVE THE DATE + DONATE <3 Thursday, May 14, 2020 at 5:30pm EST, please join the Rapid Response Network for an online screening of Batay La, a 25-minute documentary about the Haitian workers movement, Batay Ouvriye (Workers Struggle). We’ll watch the film and have a live update from Yannick Etienne of Batay Ouvriye, joining us
May 1, 2020 – This International Workers Day the streets of Port Au Prince, Haiti will remain relatively quiet. Instead of thousands of textile workers filling the streets with loudspeakers, speeches and songs of protest and demands, they will gather in small, socially distanced groups to discuss a new development in their struggle – COVID19.
Saturday, 07.15.17 – Port Au Prince, Haiti – National Police shot at workers with real bullets to break up a small protest at Fairway Apparel textile factory. Three workers were severely injured. Many were hurt, including a pregnant woman. A representative of Batay Ouvriye was beaten. Workers were protesting an increased production quota, imposed by
Yesterday we made a call to support Batay Ouvriye in the wake of hurricane Matthew. The RRN understands the need for immediate relief and aid, but we also recognize the limits of these efforts. They are short term band-aids. We choose to support Batay Ouvriye because they are fighting to address the root causes of
In the wake of hurricane Matthew, please don’t give your money to The Red Cross, the Clinton Fund, or any other NGOs which exploit and profit from disasters in dominated countries. The RRN asks you to please support Batay Ouvriye – Workers’ Fight. Batay Ouvriye (BO) is an independent and autonomous workers’ movement fighting for
If you’ve participated in RRN campaigns, you know we’ve organized several of solidarity efforts in support textile workers who are members of SOTA-BO, aka Sendika Ouvriye Takstil ak Abiman. Most recently the RRN rallied solidarity for Telemarque Pierre & Felixone Clerger, who were fired from Premium Apparel for organizing a strike for a higher minimum
BIG thanks to everyone who’s participated in solidarity efforts to stand with Haitian union organizers who have been illegally fired! We have some updates on your recent efforts. H&H Textiles: For the last two weeks, RRN supporters emailed and took selfies to stand with H&H Textiles workers. Last Thursday, 8/4, management at H&H finally met with
H&H Textiles is feeling the pressure! Today at 1pm EST, SOTA-BO is meeting with H&H Textiles management to discuss the illegal firing of four SOTA union members. Ruth Joseph, Olga Miallard, Jean Louise Marie Ederse, & Lucitha Julessaint are all SOTA union members who were fired for organizing for their rights, for fighting against their