Justice For Bangladesh Garment Workers

Justice For Bangladesh Garment Workers

Join us in a colorful PROTEST outside of VIDA ENTERPRISES CORP (249 S. Los Angeles St.) to demand that the U.S. companies assume responsibility for sourcing from a sweatshop.

WHEN: Wednesday, April 5, 2006, 11:00am - 12noon

WHERE: Meet at the parking lot at 2nd Street & Los Angeles St. in downtown Los Angeles.

**Please come wearing YELLOW (to signify fire, hazardous, warning, etc.). And/or, come wearing underwear on the outside (because Vida distributes underwear, hosiery, and socks).** It looks like it'll rain, so please come prepared!

On February 23, a horrific factory fire at KTS Textile Industries Ltd. in Bangladesh killed at least 84 garment workers and injured up to 450. Workers tried to escape, but the main emergency exit was locked. The workers produced for 4 Los Angeles companies (Uni Hosiery, ATT Enterprise, Ambiance USA, and Vida Enterprise Corp).

KTS workers are demanding the U.S. buyers to properly compensate the injured workers and families of the deceased. The companies should also work to ensure that future tragedies do not take place.

BACKGROUND:

"There was no fire alarm, no bells; just screams, people running for exits or grabbing each other for safety, and complete darkness... My skin was burning from the heat even in the staircase, although I couldn't see the fire-- and it was becoming difficult to keep breathing," says a woman worker who survived the fire.

The KTS factory fire has been called the worst tragedy in the history of Bangladesh's garment industry. The fire spread quickly because of stacks of yarn on the floors. Many workers were trapped in the building because the main emergency exit was locked. Many of the dead and missing were 12, 13, 14, and 15-year old girls, who were paid just 7 cents an hour.

Since 2000, over 580 garment workers have been killed as a result of factory fires, revealing a pattern of reckless disregard for workplace safety in Bangladesh's garment industry.

We demand that VIDA ENTERPRISES and all U.S. buyers assume responsibility for sourcing from a sweatshop.

For more information, go to

http://www.sweatshopwatch.org/index.php?s=39

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