Mexican Maquila Union Wins Big Victory

Despite being forced to cast their ballots in public in front of hostile managers and threats of closing the plant, a majority of workers voted for an independent union at the Vaqueros Navarra factory owned by one of Mexico's biggest jean makers on Friday, November 23. The Maquila Solidarity Network, which has been coordinating international support work, expects the company to challenge the vote and drag the union's victory through the legal system.

Elsewhere, Hanesbrands has refused to bargain with the Fedotrazonas union at its TOS Dominicana factory in the Dominican Republic even though the government found that the union represents a majority of the workforce. Hanesbrands refusal breaks a promise made to the Worker Rights Consortium, which has thoroughly reported on the company's anti-union behavior.

Negotiations continue between Choi & Shin management and union representatives in Guatemala regarding the closing of the unionized Cimatextile plant and the future of its sister plant, Choishin.

A Dollars & Sense article this fall provided a sympathetic treatment of the closing of sweatfree producer Just Garments, whose workers in El Salvador continue to seek restitution.