Rapid Response Network

Tag: Right to Organize

  • Good News: Apaid to Negotiate

    Good News: Apaid to Negotiate

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    We recently put out a call, asking for folks to contact Haitian factory owner, Clifford Apaid who illegally fires and represses union members for exercising their legal rights throughout his multiple factories.

    • In 2017 more than 400 workers were suspended from Premium Apparel for over 4 months.
    • In 2017, 32 workers were fired from Inter-American Wovens (IW). Eleven of these workers were union delegates who were fired during a mobilization for the minimum wage.
    • Throughout 2018 more than 150 workers were fired in the Silver Linings factory. Ten of these workers were executive committee members of SOTA-BO.  They were fired for wearing their union t-shirts to work.
    • In May 2018 there were several waves of firings in two Premium Apparel plants. In total, more than 58 union members and SOTA-BO leaders were fired on the pretext that the workers had an illegal strike

    Good news! We received word that:

    • Apaid has agreed to meet and negotiate around the workers’ demands.
    • He also agreed to rehire everyone who was illegally fired in 2017.
    • Negotiations will be had to discuss workers who were fired in 2018.

    The workers have asked that we refrain from giving any pressure for the moment. We’ll see how negotiations go, and if Apaid keeps his word.

    We will keep you posted, because is definitely not the end. The struggle continues.

    But, for the moment, some good news!

    Thank you so much for your support and solidarity <3

    Meanwhile, click here to sign up for email updates (sent thoughtfully & sparingly).

  • $1,590 Raised for Garment Workers! Thank You!

    $1,590 Raised for Garment Workers! Thank You!

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    Happy 2018!

    Thank you so much to all who ended the year with a contribution to support Haitian garment workers!

    We raised $1,591.96 for workers in Port Au Prince and Carrefour!

    This money was directly wired to Haiti and Batay Ouvriye to be disbursed to a group of workers from four factories. They have been unable to go to work because of union-busting.

    Their firings were all found illegal by government and regulatory agencies, but factory owners and bosses wouldn’t budge. By the end of the year, they were out of work for several months with unpaid rent and hungry families.

    Thank you so much for standing with them, so they can continue their fight.

    If this is new news to you, check out this video to learn more.

    It’s Never to Late to Give.

    Our overall goal was $2,000. So, we are $408.04 short of this goal.

    It’s not too late to give! Every dollar counts.

    Many of the donations we received were in smaller amounts, like $15 and $25.

    It all adds up to critical support.

    Click here to DONATE.

    We look forward to a new year of international solidarity and continuing the struggle.

    Happy New Year!


    Be sure to stay up with RRN updates:

    Facebook – @RapidResponseNetwork
    Twitter – @RRNsolidarity
    Email – 

    Thank you for all you do! <3

    #SolidarityForever

  • Year End Goal: $2,000 to Fight Exploitation!

    Year End Goal: $2,000 to Fight Exploitation! <3

    Just $530 Left to Raise Before Midnight!
    We can do this.

    CLICK HERE TO DONATE     <3


    Illegally Fired Workers Face Hunger & Homelessness

    From May to July, 2017, SOTA-BO textile union led garment workers across Haiti in monumental mobilizations for an increased minimum wage. In the wake of these efforts, many of these union members were arbitrarily and illegally fired for exercising their legal rights.

    • SOTA-BO members from Quality Sewing factory have been out of work since March – another clear case of union-busting! The Ministry of labor found their firings illegal, and said they should be rehired… but, the boss refuses to let them in to work.

    As the holidays approach, these workers and their families are hungry. They face losing their homes, as they cannot pay rent.

    One of the workers from Quality Sewing just had a baby. The spouse of a worker from SISA also just gave birth. They are struggling to raise infants with no wages.

    Workers with older children cannot send them to school. In Haiti, public schools are few and far between. So, private schools are the norm. Without income, these workers cannot pay school tuition. Their children are unable to take year end exams, and fall behind in school.

    This is all because factory owners refuse workers’ basic rights.

    "Workers Organize!"

     

    Support Illegally Fired Workers – Let’s Raise $2000 before 2018!

    Workers’ survival and very lives are being attacked simply, because they insist on basic rights – a decent wage that allows them to feed, house, clothe and educate themselves and their families.

    Let’s help SOTA-BO members get through the year end & continue to fight!

    It’s likely the best thing you can do with your money and your conscience this holiday season.

    If just 50 people contribute, $40 each, we can reach this goal.

    If you can’t donate $40, please give what you can.

    Every dollar adds up and carries a major impact for these workers.

    Stand with garment workers in their fight against exploitation!


    DONATE HERE.     *


    Thank you SO MUCH for your ongoing solidarity <3

    HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

    *The RRN is not a 501(c)3, so your donation is not tax deductible.