Chinese and Latino Garment Workers Announce Filing of Lawsuit Against ‘Cache’
Protest Multi-Million Dollar Retail Chain For Contracting Sweatshops
PRESS CONFERENCE
Date: Thursday, February 11, 2010
Time: 12:30pm
Location: Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle
Chinese and Latino workers unite this Thursday to announce a federal lawsuit against Cache, Inc. and to protest the luxury retail and manufacturer chain’s failure to abide by federal and state wage and hour laws. For many years, workers from Cache’s subcontracted factory in the midtown garment district labored over 70 hours each week without ever receiving overtime pay and sometimes not receiving minimum wage. Shortly after workers had complained about not being paid overtime, they were retaliated against and fired.
“When we asked the bosses to pay us for our overtime, they said, ‘What overtime pay? Never has our company ever given overtime pay,’” says Dong, a Cache worker.
Despite the hard-won victory against manufacturer Liberty Apparel, where a federal court judge and jury clearly stated that manufacturers are responsible for their subcontractor’s wage violations, Cache refuses to right its wrongdoings and compensate the workers in accordance with the law. Despite $250 million in annual revenue, Cache refuses to pay workers what they are owed. This is a disgrace.
“Workers face similar conditions across the garment industry. We need to stand up together to demand for just and fair treatment,” says Patricia, another Cache worker.
The workers are being represented in the civil lawsuit by legal counsel from the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.
Cache workers, along with workers from Liberty Apparel and Great Wall factories, and other supporters of the Ain’t I A Woman?! Campaign are demanding that Cache take responsibility for their wrongdoing, compensate the workers, as well as demanding stronger manufacturer and retailer accountability legislation
