Haiti

Update: State officials try to pacify H&H workers... Not happening.

Yesterday we reported about the ongoing strike at H&H Textiles in Carrefour, Haiti, led by the union SOTA-BO. (Click here to read that past update for more info.) Workers are rightfully fed up. They struggle to exist on misery wages, and are constantly harassed, intimidated and physically attacked for asserting their right to organize. Their

SOTA/H&H Textile Workers Strike. Which Side Are You On?

In January, SOTA-BO textile workers union at H&H Textiles in Carrefour, Haiti were ready to strike to force management to re-hire five women workers & union members who were unjustly fired. To avoid a work stoppage, H&H rehired three of the five workers. At the H&H factory, workers and union members constantly face arbitrary firings,

No roads, electricity? No taxes! Higher wages!

It’s true, as citizens, we must pay taxes or tariffs. However, we must see where it’s going. In Haiti, DGI is collecting taxes and tariffs but as citizens we never get services. We have to do whatever we can to live without the services the state owes us.  There are no roads, no electricity, no

Protests Continue. No Social Services? No Taxes!

In Haiti, there are virtually no state-provided services. Roads are a mess and basic infrastructure is missing in most places throughout the country. On January 31, 2017, workers of the SOKOWA textile trade union, working in the Codevi Trade Zone in Ounaminthe, went on strike and took the streets protesting a 13% tax on their

No Social Services. No Taxes! Haitian Workers Need Your Support.

Ounaminthe, Haiti – On January 31, 2017, workers of the SOKOWA textile trade union, working in the Codevi Trade Zone, went on strike and took the streets protesting a 13% tax on their wages. Thousands of other workers and other people joined them to march. While a wage tax sounds like a normal practice, this

H&H Worker Talks About Firings & Strike

Last week, SOTA-BO and Haitian garment workers has a small victory in their fight for the right to organize. Five women – known union members and leaders – were arbitrarily fired.* (Click here to read more about this.) Workers are fed up. Every day is a fight to exist. Most work 12-16 hour days. They

SOTA Strike Announced. Workers Re-hired!

Port Au Prince, Haiti – Wednesday 1/25/17 – Garment workers and SOTA-BO union members at H&H Textiles factory warned the company they planned to go on strike today, Thursday 1/26. H&H Textiles is in the Palmiers Free Zone, of the Carrefour subdivision in Port-au-Prince.

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