LIBERTY APPAREL GARMENT WORKERS DECLARE MONUMENTAL
VICTORY!!!
FEDERAL COURT DECISION TO CHANGE THE FUTURE OF
NEW YORK'S FASHION INDUSTRY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2009
Workers are announcing a victory in the Federal Court decision
in the case of Zheng v. Liberty Apparel that will have a huge
impact throughout the fashion industry. The case was presided
over by Judge Richard Sullivan at the Southern District of New
York Federal Court. The jury found in favor of the 25 garment
workers for claims of flagrant labor violations. They ruled that
the manufacturer Liberty Apparel and its owners Albert Nigri and
Hagai Laniado knew about the sweatshop conditions in their factories.
Moreover, the jury found that Liberty Apparel had functional control
over the terms and conditions of their subcontracted workers.
Workers are owed nearly $600,000 in damages.
It was nearly 10 years ago that the garment workers labored over
80 hours a week for an average of $3 per hour. For months they
were not paid any wages at all. Liberty Apparel's representatives
promised them that if they finished the clothing, they would be
paid. Instead, the factory closed down, owing workers hundreds
of thousands of dollars in wages. For nearly 10 years, Liberty
Apparel has used the court system to drag out the case and delay
responsibility. Today, owner Albert Nigri continues to use well-known
sweatshops to produce clothing for his other label Pretty Girl.
However, this decision will set a legal precedent for the entire
apparel manufacturing industry where it is customary for companies
to evade responsibility for the sweatshop conditions in their
subcontracted factories.
"I was only a teenager when I started working at Liberty
Apparel. Now after ten years, I am able to share this long-awaited
victory with my family, my co-workers, and other garment workers,"
said Ling Nan Zheng, Liberty Apparel garment worker and representative.
"I am extremely happy about this victory. This will finally
open up the door for other workers in the industry to seek justice!"
said Feng Yin Jiang, former DKNY garment worker.
# # #
For more information, contact: 212-334-2333
