SOTA

Workers Shot, Reporter Killed in Fight for Increased Wages

Note:  A big thanks to those who lent their solidarity to the workers and peasants of Batay Ouvriye during RRN’s emergency Summer/Fall 2021 fundraiser! Thanks to you we surpassed our $10,000 goal. Your support played a role in helping these workers through a very difficult time, so that they could organize this current campaign for

Good News: Apaid to Negotiate

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

Working Women's Day

March 8, 2018 – Port Au Prince, Haiti – Textile workers with the trade union, SOTA-BO, commemorated International Women’s Day outside the SONAPI Industrial Park, to bring attention to their continued fight for democratic rights – a wage that allows them to feed, clothe, house and educate themselves and their families, as well as the

SOTA-BO Celebrates 6 Years!

September 15, 2017 marked the sixth anniversary of SOTA-BO – an independent textile union, based in Port Au Prince, Haiti and affiliated with the Batay Ouvriye (Workers Fight) movement! Since their start in 2011, the union has grown in numbers and strength! Workers with this union were instrumental in leading the country-wide, three month fight for

Port Au Prince: More Workers Get Organized

Thanks for your patience as we catch up on bringing you news and updates of Haitian garment workers’ struggles after Hurricane Irma. Most people in south Florida now have power restored, but Internet is another story. September 2, 2017 – the RRN received news that workers at MGA Haiti, SA – a garment factory in Port

Goal Met! Workers Rehired!

We’re a little behind on posting updates due to Hurricane Irma’s impact on south Florida. We’re waiting to hear back from our contacts about hurricane impacts to workers and organizations in the north, northwest and northeast of the country. Our thoughts are with those in the Caribbean and Florida who are still dealing with the

SOTA-BO: Regroup & Onward!

The RRN extends MASSIVE thanks to all who have supported Haitian garment workers in their fight for 800 Gourdes minimum wage. Thanks in part to the pressure applied through international solidarity, workers were able to mobilize for three months, making significant gains in the level of their struggle. Workers turned out in record numbers, unified

Police Block Industrial Park. President Offers a Bogus Wage.

Monday – July 31, 2017 – Haitian garment workers planned to take the streets again today to demand 800 Gourdes/day (US$12.82) minimum wage. But, they encountered heavy police presence at the Sonapi Industrial Park in Port Au Prince. The police are blocking the gates to the industrial park, locking workers inside the gates of the

Pressure Works! Fairway Workers Rehired.

Last week, the RRN reported that National Police shot at workers with real bullets to break up a small protest at Fairway Apparel textile factory in Port Au Prince, Haiti. 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

Workers Shot. Union Busting. Action NOW.

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