Justice for NOVA Knits Workers!

100 Immigrant Chinese Garment Workers to Protest Exploitation of "Disposable Workers" by Transnational Corporations

Chnese Progressive Association
4/10/05

On Tuesday, April 12th, over a hundred Chinese immigrant garment workers will demand justice from NOVA Knits and other transnational garment corporations.

Last month, NOVA Knits, Inc, a San Francisco based garment manufacturing company, laid-off over 80 Chinese immigrant workers with merely an hour notice and no severance. Many of these workers have worked for NOVA Knits for over 20 years.

To transnational corporations like NOVA Knits, low-wage immigrant workers are treated as "disposable" resources to be used and abandoned at the whim of their corporate bosses. NOVA Knits is a key manufacturer for major labels such as: the Gap & Banana Republic, Abercrombie and Fitch, Liz Claiborne, Sears, Ann Taylor, Talbots, Tse Cashmere, Abeille Ligne, and Ellen Tracy.

NOVA Knits Inc. has violated the WARN Act, which offers nominal protection to workers, their families and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of plant closings and mass layoffs.

Historically, as one of the largest knitting factories in the nation, NOVA Knits has outsourced to factories in China, Hong Kong, Mexico and Africa to exploit lower labor and production costs. Since October 2004 the corporation has laid off a total of over 120 immigrant Chinese workers in San Francisco with no notice or severance.

For more info, contact the Chinese Progressive Association at (415) 391-6986 ext. 308.