About the non-profit

Sweatshop Watch is a coalition of labor, community, civil rights, immigrant rights, women's, religious and student organizations, and many individuals, committed to eliminating the exploitation that occurs in and the illegal and inhumane conditions that characterize sweatshops. Sweatshop Watch serves low-wage workers nationally and globally, with a primary focus on garment workers in California. We believe that workers should earn a living wage in a safe and decent working environment, and that those who benefit most from sweatshop labor must be held accountable. We strive to address the root causes of sweatshops through worker leadership development, policy advocacy, consumer education, and corporate accountability campaigns.

Why was Sweatshop Watch Started?

Sweatshop Watch was founded after the discovery of the infamous slave-sweatshop in El Monte, California. Seventy-two Thai garment workers, who had been held in slavery for up to seven years, were sewing clothes for some of the nation's top labels and retailers. The workers were forced to labor over eighteen hours a day, seven days a week, in a compound enclosed by barbed wire and patrolled by armed guards.

Sweatshop Watch was created to bring support and social and legal services to the Thai workers, with the aim of securing their release from further detention at the hands of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Through public demonstrations, letter-writing campaigns, litigation, and (most of all) the workers' own courage and determination, the workers ultimately succeeded in winning over $4 million in back wages from those who profited most from their labor.

Most notable milestones

• Winning millions of dollars in back wages and redress on behalf of garmentworkers toiling under sweatshop conditions in El Monte, Saipan, American Samoa, Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc.
• Passing California's landmark anti-sweatshop law – the toughest corporate accountability law of its kind in the country – which goes up the garment subcontracting chain to ensure that garment manufacturers guarantee minimum wage and overtime for the workers who sew their clothes.
• Passing "sweat-free" procurement laws across California, which make sure that taxpayer dollars do not subsidize sweatshops through government purchases.
• Empowering garment workers in California through multilingual, "Know Your Rights" workshops and materials.

What's the niche?

We're one of the few anti-sweatshop organizations whose leadership (i.e. Board and staff) reflect the diversity of garment workers – mostly Asian and Latina women from immigrant backgrounds. As a central part of our mission, we're committed to the principle that the workers who labor in sweatshops are our driving force. We strive to ensure that our decisions, projects, and organizing efforts are informed by their voices, their needs, and their life experiences.

Because we aim to affect both grassroots action and public policy at every level – local, regional, national, and international – Sweatshop Watch engages in a wide range of activities, including:

• educating workers, consumers, the media, and one another
• speaking out to affect public opinion on sweatshop conditions
• organizing workers through community organizations, union boycotts, large scale campaigns, and street actions
• advocating for policies that protect workers
• monitoring state and federal agencies charged with enforcing laws that protect workers
• bringing lawsuits against, as well as defending lawsuits brought by, retailers, manufacturers, contractors, and government institutions
• training judges and labor commissioners to be aware of sweatshop conditions
• demanding corporate accountability through dialogue with contractors, manufacturers, and retailers, and worker, consumer and shareholder campaigns.

What's the biggest challenge?

The greatest challenge for garment workers today is corporate-driven globalization. Due to "free trade" policies and the deregulation of the global apparel market, corporations are scouring the globe for the cheapest, most exploitable pools of labor and accelerating the "race to the bottom" – the dramatic erosion of wages and working conditions for garment workers around the world.

Earlier this year, a deadly fire ripped through a garment factory in Bangladesh. The main emergency exits were illegally locked, stairways were cluttered with boxes of garments, there was no fire safety equipment – trapping workers inside. As far as we know, 84 workers died – the vast majority of them young women. Among those burned to death were 12, 13, and 14-year-old girls, who were paid just seven cents an hour.

Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. Since 2000, over 580 Bangladeshi garment workers have been killed as a result of factory fires.

We must ask ourselves:
How can garment workers – at the dawn of the 21st century – still face 19th century sweatshop conditions? Is a t-shirt really worth more than a life?

Guiding principle in life

A friend gave me a lovely, inspiring book by Don Miguel Ruiz, called "The Four Agreements," which is full of grace and simple truths. It is a guide for personal conduct grounded in Toltec traditions. One of the most profound (and challenging) agreements is to use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Goal yet to be achieved

Locking myself in an oceanside cabin for a year and reading all the great works of literature, theory, history, etc. that I can get my hands on.

Mentor

Myles Horton, the late great founder of the Highlander Folk School. He's a "mentor" in the loosest sense, since I only "know" him through the modest, plain-spoken words from his autobiography ("The Long Haul"). Not only was he a seminal figure in key social justice movements in the US (labor rights, civil rights, etc.), he was a humane, visionary, and humble teacher - a unique soul.

What motivated you to get started?

I became a student activist at a time in California when we faced a barrage of ballot initiatives scapegoating immigrants (Prop 187), instituting "three strikes" (Prop 184), eviscerating affirmative action (Prop 209), and more. To this day, I find it unfathomable how anyone can be animated by such feelings of hatred and animosity towards immigrants, people of color, poor people, gays and lesbians, etc. I realize how utterly naive I must sound, especially in light of the genocidal atrocities which occur every second yet which most of us have the "luxury" to ignore.

Ultimately, my social justice values are rooted in a vision of a fair and just society in which we all help those who need it most. I am reminded of that wonderful quote from Che: "The true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love."

Like best about what you do?

I am constantly amazed and inspired by the courage and determination of workers, immigrants, and poor people striving to achieve justice for themselves.

At age 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a part-time farmer, part-time veterinarian, and part-time singer. Clearly, my workaholic tendencies developed at an early age (laugh).

What was your first job?

An algebra and geometry tutor. Sadly, most of my mathematical skills and abilities are buried in that dusty, cobweb-ridden corner of my brain. However, if you ever would like to know how to calculate the area of a cylinder, I'm the one to ask!

Biggest pastime outside of work

Singing: in choir, on stage, etc. These days, my singing is relegated to the shower and the occasional karaoke bar.

Person most interested in meeting

Bruce Springsteen - because I need to put in another plug for my partner.

Three interesting facts about yourself

1. My cat has three legs.
2. I won two chess championships in elementary school.
3. I entered college at age 15 - but then took 15 years to complete my degree.

Favorite books

• "The Loser" by Thomas Bernhard
• "Limited Inc." by Jacques Derrida
• "The Glass Palace" by Amitav Ghosh
• "The Long Haul" by Myles Horton
• "A Fine Balance" by Rohinton Mistry
• "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison
• "Catcher in the Rye" by JD Salinger
• "Maus" by Art Spiegelman

. . . and I'm sure I have forgotten many more.

Who would you like to be contacted by?

We pride ourselves in being a "small" organization that does "big" work. However, our work is not possible without the time, commitment, and generosity of workers, consumers, socially responsible companies, students, and more working together to end sweatshop exploitation. If you are interested in more information, donating, or getting involved, please visit our website at: www.sweatshopwatch.org.

Also, we're planning to launch a campaign to "refashion" Los Angeles' garment industry – from sweatshops to sweat-free. We're looking for designers, manufacturers, retailers, and celebrities to help us transform the local industry and the "Made By LA" image into one that is synonymous with forward fashion and decent working conditions. Please contact us!

On a more personal note, my partner would like me to do a shout-out to Bruce Springsteen. It can't hurt, can it?