Reflections onWorkers Memorial Day 2013


By DEBORAH A. MILES Events to commemorate Workers


Memorial Day were held throughout the state both Sunday, April 28, and Monday, April 29. In the Capital


Region, PEF President Susan Kent spoke at memorial ceremonies in Schenectady, Latham and Albany. “This is the 42nd


year since the Occupational Safety


and Health


Administration has been established,” Kent said. “The nation has made dramatic progress in reducing work-related deaths and injuries. But more has to be done. For every fatality, the lives of a workers’ family


By DEBORAH A. MILES New York’s labor leaders received a first-


hand account from Sumi Abedin, a 24- year-old seamstress from Bangladesh, about her escape from the Tazreen Fashion factory fire that killed 112 workers last November and drew international attention. Abedin came to the U.S., still recovering


from injuries sustained from jumping out a window at the burning factory, to spotlight the working conditions of garment workers in Bangladesh and to seek compensation for victims of the deadly fire. While Abedin was touring the U.S. to


send her message to corporate giants such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and other retailers who manufacture goods abroad for U.S. consumers, tragedy struck again. On April 24, an eight-story building that


housed four garment factories in the capital city of Bangladesh collapsed overnight, killing more than 230 workers. The building splintered into a pile of concrete because factory managers ignored the building order to keep the 2,000 workers out. The sites of both tragedies house the


factories where well-known American retailers pay dirt-poor wages to workers who make clothing and goods with few of the basic safeguards that are standard in most of the developed world. Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world with a 60-million- member workforce. The recent building collapse and a


string of garment factory fires is part of a growing campaign by labor rights activists


Page 8—The Communicator May 2013


ESCAPING—Rescuers help an injured garment worker after the building collapsed near Dhaka onApril 24.


and union groups to publicize the shoddy and dangerous working conditions at overseas factories, that manufacture goods for American retailers such as Wal-Mart. On April 25, Wal-Mart released a press


statement without mentioning Abedin’s demand for compensation for the families of workers who died and those injured. It said the company is committed to “raising our own standards” and said it would donate $1.6 million to launch a safety training academy in Bangladesh. Still, workers’ rights groups say


pressure from U.S. retailers to keep a lid on costs continues to foster unsafe conditions and encourages Bangladeshi factories to cut corners. At a labor luncheon in Albany, Liana


Foxvog, director of organizing and communications for the International Labor Rights Forum, talked about the working conditions in Bangladesh and suggested ways to improve them. PEF President Susan Kent, Secretary-


is shattered and forever changed. We can’t forget that.” Kent and PEF Secretary-Treasurer


Carlos Garcia laid a wreath at the PEF monument on April 29, after Kent spoke about the need to improve health and safety conditions, not only in New York,


but throughout the world. She cited fatal mining accidents in the U.S., a tragic fire at a garment factory in Bangladesh last November, and collapse of another Bangladeshi garment factory that killed hundreds of workers in April. “I am asking PEF staff and PEF


members to work with other unions to put pressure on U.S. companies that rely on goods made in Bangladesh. These companies are making millions of dollars, and the very least they can do is compensate the families of the fallen victims, and the victims who remain,” Kent said. At noon, Kent joined


RIVERA


state Department of Labor (DOL) Commissioner Peter


Tragedies, human rights issues in Bangladesh spur unions to act


Treasurer Carlos Garcia and statewide Political Action Committee Chair VP Wayne Bayer participated in the discussion and focused on the need for change in corporate America. Everyone in attendance agreed unions


are here to make a difference and improve the lives and working conditions of people everywhere. They said in this day and age, no one should die as a result of corporate greed. PEF leaders also said Abedin’s


description of the physical condition of the factory was appalling, and applauded her courage and determination by coming to this country to urge the companies, whose goods were found in the ashes, to compensate the victims. A fund is being created, and PEF in solidarity with other labor unions will apply pressure on American corporations to do the right thing. Bangladesh laborers earn


approximately $37 a month. In 2007, the AFL-CIO filed a petition asking for a review of trade benefits for the country under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, which waives U.S. import duties for poor countries on thousands of goods. The GSP rules require a country to


demonstrate it is “taking steps to afford internationally recognized human rights.” “The victims of this avoidable tragedy


need and deserve financial support now,” Kent said. “It’s time they gave back to the workers who made them wealthy, and at least, compensate the families of the victims.”


PEF Information Line: 1-800-553-2445


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