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REI Should Pay the Workers Who Sewed Their Labels!
from the Asian Law Caucus
4/26/04
updated 6/4/04
Asian Law Caucus has reported that the former garment workers who sewed REI labels have won a $35,000 settlement from REI, which will help compensate them for unpaid wages!
They have called for continued support for garment workers, who have faced recurring stolen wages. They ask that supporters
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Write a letter or send a fax to Undersecretary Victoria Bradshaw, head of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, to tell her that the Labor Commissioner must not let retailers like REI off the hook so easily. Whether or not retailers are liable for guaranteeing workers’ unpaid wages, they must at least provide any and all information that would help the Labor Commissioner conduct a full and thorough investigation of unpaid wage claims. Faxes can be sent to 916-327-9158.
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Write a letter or email, or send a fax, to CEO Dennis Madsen, thanking REI for providing a grant to help the workers, providing the names of its vendors, and working to improve its Social Compliance Program to make sure violations like this don’t ever happen again! Tell your friends and family to write letters, too! If you are a member of REI’s cooperative, be sure to mention it. Emails can be sent to publicaffairs@rei.com and faxes can be sent to (253) 891-2523.
Sample letters are available.
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Over two-years after sewing garments which included cycling shorts and other athletic gear with the REI label, over twenty garment workers—all monolingual Chinese immigrant women—have still not been paid for their hard work. REI prides itself on being a socially responsible company, yet it will not agree to pay these women’s unpaid wages or give up the name of the contractor it hired!
Under California’s joint liability law, often referred to as AB 633, garment workers can collect unpaid wages from the manufacturers that contracted with their employer. In February 2004, pursuant to this law and through a settlement negotiated by the Asian Law Caucus, twenty garment workers employed by a GNT, Inc. collected a portion of the wages they were owed from such high profile labels as Jessica McClintock, Biscotti, and Bellwether/Profile Design, who contracted directly with GNT for the production of its garments.
Although the workers clearly remember sewing REI’s distinctive label, REI refuses to pay any portion of the workers’ unpaid wages. Because REI did not contract directly with GNT, REI is not legally liable for the workers’ unpaid wages. However, REI not only refuses to offer any compensation to the workers who sewed its labels, REI also refuses to give up the name of the contractor it contracted with. Without the name of REI’s contractor, the workers are unable to collect over $27,000 in unpaid wages.
You can help the workers claim their unpaid wages by taking action!
· You can attend a press conference and rally to learn more about this case and to support the garment workers who have still not been paid the wages they are due. The press conference and rally will take place on Wednesday, May 12, 2004, 11:00am at REI’s newest store at 840 Brannan Street in San Francisco .
· You can write a letter to CEO Dennis Madsen, urging REI to compensate the workers and to give up the name of its contractor that contracted with GNT, and tell your friends and family to write letters, too! If you are a member of REI’s cooperative, be sure to mention that in your letter and demand that REI live up to its reputation as a socially responsible company.
Please send copies of your letters to The Employment & Labor Project, Asian Law Caucus, 939 Market Street, Suite 201, San Francisco, California 94103.
For additional information, please contact Grace Meng at the Asian Law Caucus, gracem@asianlawcaucus.org , (415) 896-1701 extension 110, or Wing-yee Chow at the Chinese Progressive Association, (415) 391-6986 extension 303.
