WRC on PVH's Bangladesh Fire Safety Agreement

03/21/12

Phillips Van- Heusen (PVH), which operates Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and other apparel brands, has made an unprecedented set of commitments to protect apparel workers in Bangladesh from the grievous safety hazards that have taken hundreds of lives in recent years. The agreement between PVH and labor rights organizations and unions in Bangladesh and internationally is a vital step forward for workers in Bangladesh.

PVH Corp. Announces Landmark Agreement with Coalition of NGOs and Bangladesh Labor Unions on Fire and Building Safety

03/21/12

PVH is the initial company to commit to this first-of-its-kind program

NEW YORK, Mar 21, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- PVH Corp. [NYSE: PVH] announced today that it has entered into a Joint Memorandum of Understanding with a group of non-governmental organizations consisting of Clean Clothes Campaign, Worker Rights Consortium, The International Labor Rights Forum, and Maquila Solidarity Network, as well as a group of eight international and Bangladeshi trade unions, regarding fire and building safety in Bangladesh’s apparel factories.

Century after historic fire, focus is on worker safety

Houston Chronicle

03/24/2011

On March 25, 1911, 146 workers died in the flames of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, the largest blouse manufacturer in New York City. Locked doors trapped workers on the ninth floor, exposing them to fire and smoke. Some tried to escape on the narrow fire escape, but it collapsed. Many others jumped out of windows. All but 23 of the dead were women, most were young mothers, and some were children. All were immigrants in search of a better life.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire killed 146 but led to labor reform. A century later, has America forgotten its lessons?

Star-Ledger

03/20/2011

That indignity, and the crowded and unsanitary factory floor, led many of the 400 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory workers to go on strike in 1909 as they began to claim their rights to respect, better wages and safer working conditions. They won concessions on pay, but little else from the factory owners, who kept the workplace in a shambles.

And the doors locked.

Statement on Congressional Letters in Defense of Labor Rights Leaders in Bangladesh

International Labor Rights Forum

03/08/2011

Press Release: At Least 28 More Garment Workers Die in Bangladeshi Factory Fire

12/14/10

Labour rights groups: “Failure of brands, government and manufacturers to take preventive action condemns more workers to die”.

Dozens Killed in Bangladesh Fire

New York Times

12/14/2010

DHAKA, Bangladesh — A fire at a garment factory north of Dhaka, the capital, killed at least 20 people and injured dozens on Tuesday, in the latest blow to the country’s largest industry.

The fire at a 10-story factory in the Ashulia industrial area, about 16 miles from the capital, started on the ninth floor around lunchtime, when most of the workers were outside. Local reporters who had canvassed hospitals said at least 24 people had been killed. Factory officials said they knew of about 20 deaths....

Statement Concerning the Release from Jail of BCWS Leaders

09/10/10

We have received confirmation that Kalpona Akter, Babul Akhter, and Aminul Islam of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity (BCWS) were released from the Dhaka Central Prison by the Bangladeshi authorities at about 10pm Dhaka time September 10th, at the start of the Eid Festival which marks the end of Ramadan. Their release was secured following the granting of bail on all charges during a special hearing by a magistrate judge on Wednesday, September 8. Upon their release, the BCWS leaders expressed a “heartfelt thanks” to all who have supported them.

Textile strikes rock Bangladesh

SocialistWorker.org

08/24/2010

Snehal Shingavi analyzes the battle shaking Bangladesh's textile industry--and the international manufacturers who set up shop there to take advantage of low wages.

Striking garment workers who gathered to protest low wages flee police firing tear gas and rubber bullets

OVER THE past month, Bangladesh's textile industry--one of the most exploitative in the world--has been rocked by strikes and protests...

Great advert for workers’ unity

Tribune Magazine (UK)

08/17/2010

Workers Uniting is the global union created by the Unite union in Britain and the United Steelworkers in the United States and Canada. It has taken the unprecedented step of placing a full-page advertisement in a Bangladesh newspaper to support garment workers in their campaign to raise the minimum wage and secure the right to organise in a trade union in an effort to combat the race of US and European companies to the bottom.