Georgetown: Don't let them put their dirty Hanes on you

Thursday, March 13, two workers from the TOS Dominicana factory in the Dominican Republic came to Georgetown. Manuel Pujols and Julio Castillo discussed the fight for better conditions and wages they have been waging at the TOS factory. Workers have experienced intimidation, verbal abuse, forced and unpaid overtime, while Hanes management refuses to address the problems in the factory. Take Action: Write to Hanes!

[This piece was submitted as an Op-Ed to The Hoya]

Manuel and Julio conversed with students for more than an hour, describing 12 hour work days, machinery able to sever hands and fingers in a second, pay the equivalent of $68 every 8 days—not even enough to buy food for a family of four. Manuel shared how he “would come home after working twelve hour days, operating six sewing machines at the same time—all with the capability of ripping my hands or fingers off in a matter of seconds—and soak my hands and feet and knees and rub Vicks vapor rub all over them because they were damaged by constantly standing on the hard floor…The management can improve the machinery but they refuse…they don’t care about our health.”

After describing the drastic differences betweens Hanes’ public image and the actuality of life as a Hanes employee, Manuel asked: “If Hanes respects the rights of workers and has a code of conduct with Universities, why do they not want to improve worker’s conditions? People should be able to work and have dignity in their work.”

When first hired, Julio described the contract they were offered as “very good”--covering money for educational expenses, scholarships, health insurance, and advancement opportunities. But just six months later, managers told the employees none of these promises were going to be fulfilled. Most of the workers who complained were fired, but despite blatant illegal acts against the worker’s right to organize, over 50% of the workforce remained outraged by the injustice and demanded the right to organize a union. Still the company refused to recognize their right and tried to intimidate and bribe the leaders of the union.

Although Hanes’ “Global Business Practices” statement declares that the company will “respect the right of employees to exercise their lawful right of free association”. Moreover, the document states that “employees have the right to work in an environment that is free from intimidation, harassment and abuse”. As we heard from the TOS workers about abuses ranging from physical harm to violations of their legal right to freedom of association (form a union), we can see that Hanes has failed to live up to their promises. Instead of hiding behind this empty rhetoric, the company needs to take its own advice, which means “being accountable and taking responsibility for actions and consequences”.

When companies like Hanes fail to live up to their promises, we as consumers ust take action alongside workers like Manuel and Julio. Students at universities around the country have taken action in the past and continue to take action against unfair and many times illegal working conditions. There are numerous ways to combat factory exploitation. One successful strategy easily available to every student, is to target celebrities and other representatives of apparel companies and members of corporate board of directors in order to publicly hold the companies accountable. For example, students have confronted Kevin Bacon, who has been a public spokesman in advertising for Hanes, dropping banners calling him out for complicity in exploitation. Embarrassed, he told them he would ‘look into the problem’. Students have also targeted Jessica Matthews, as she is both the President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a board member of Hanes. As a leader in the “peace movement”, she has failed to recognize sweatshops a peace issue, as she continues endorses Hanes regardless of their exploitative practices.

Take Action: Write to Hanes!

As students, we not only have consumer leverage as target age-bracket for sales, but we have leverage as tuition paying students at a university which holds a contract with Hanes. The global supply and demand chain can seem so abstract and irrelevant to our lives, but when we hear stories from folks like Manuel and Julio, how can we not become impassioned to act? Standing in solidarity is quite possible, even if you aren’t an ‘activist’. Write a letter to let Hanes know that consumers are aware of unfair working conditions and will not tolerate these business practices. Please, use your power and call or write a letter to a Hanes executive officer or board member today!

Vice President Joia Johnson
Hanesbrands Inc.
1000 East Hanes Mill Road
Winston Salem, NC 27105

Business.Practices@Hanesbrands.com
Website: www.HBIResourceLine.com
888-303-7525

President Jessica Matthews (Hanesbrands Boardmember)
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20036

For More information on the TOS or the campaign:
* Report on TOS Dominicana by the Worker Rights Consortium, Georgetown's independent factory monitoring organization
* Factsheet on TOS Dominicana from International Labor Rights Forum