Haitian workers on strike in N.Y.C
1990 1990-04Read it in the scan (PDF at ETOL), page 7 →
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comrades to represent them before the ILGWU (International Ladies Garment Workers Union). The workers believe this union is more capable of defending their rights than Local 113.
Workers at Domsey have additional reasons for going on strike:
1) They receive $3.65 per hour for a 10hour work day.
2) They are not paid for overtime and holidays.
3) They do not have access to any health and insurance benefits.
4) The use of the bathroom is severely restricted by the boss.
5) Workers are depersonalized. They are assigned arbitrary numbers which are used instead of their names.
6) All workers receive a card. If for any reason they leave their card at home they are not allowed to work for the day.
7) Haitian women represent a majority of the workers at Domsey. They are often propositioned or otherwise sexually harassed by macho Haitian supervisors. If the women refuse to comply with the latter's sexual demands, or if they openly denounce advances, they are often transferred or simply fired.
8) Any worker, male or female, who denounces the crude exploitation existing in the workplace is summarily fired.
9) Because of the low salaries and the high unemployment rate in Haiti, the bosses at Domsey feel that they are justified and treat Haitian workers badly.
One important aspect of this strike is the amount of solidarity it has attracted. By SOCIALIST inviting community groups, as well as those supporting the popular movement in Haiti, to join them in their picketline, and by participating in large numbers at the first anniversary of the strike of 8000 Eastern Airline machinists on March 4 at LaGuardia Airport, workers at Domsey have proven their political maturity.
Their strike deserves to be supported by all sections of the U.S. working class.
The success of the Domsey strikers depends on the solidarity of all workers. No community by itself can protect its members from discrimination either on the job or in the whole society. It takes the combined force of all workers to win respect for workers' rights to a better life and a strong organization to defend these rights.
ACTION APRIL1990 7