Bangladeshi Workers Tour Coming to Pittsburgh

On Saturday, October 16^th, 2004, the National Labor Committee (NLC) – an independent, non-profit organization that works to expose and support workers’ rights in the global economy – is traveling across the United States with garment workers who sew many of our clothes and Pittsburgh Pirate gear in sweatshops in Bangladesh.

These female garment workers are a testament to what can happen when workers unite and fight for their rights.  They have struggled for and won days off to celebrate religious holidays, and this past June they won their right to four paid weeks of maternity leave.  Unfortunately, this recent success was devastated both by threats of moving their work to China and by a debilitating flood that destroyed much of their homes and means of survival.

To support these workers, to hear their stories of laboring in sweatshop conditions, and to empower people to work toward abolishing sweatshop labor, the NLC is sponsoring a Bangladeshi Workers’ Tour, which will travel throughout the United States from September 28^th to October 27^th.  Pittsburgh is proud and honored to host these workers as they stop in our city on October 16^th.

To celebrate their arrival and to share in and learn about their struggles, local anti-sweatshop activists, teachers, students, and union leaders are working to organize a powerful and educational event.  Although the event’s activities are not yet finalized, tentative plans include a large-scale presentation, followed by a panel discussion comprised of labor activists from faith-based, student, union, and grassroots-organizing perspectives.  Look for announcements in newspapers and on flyers throughout the city for future details. 

To find out more about this event, or to help organize and solidify plans please contact Michelle Gaffey at 412-661-6776 or at gaffeymb@hotmail.com.  Let’s work together with the National Labor Committee and the National Garment Workers Federation of Bangladesh to reveal “The Human Face Behind the Global Economy!”

- Michelle Gaffey