Workers at Swimwear Plant Go on Strike

Organizers of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union said Thursday that at least half of an estimated 175 workers at a downtown garment factory were on strike because of what the union described as firings and assaults aimed at quelling a campaign to unionize the company.

An attorney for the company, Proud Stitch Inc., said only about 25 workers were on strike.

Employees of the company walked out Tuesday after one employee announced to his co-workers that he had been fired for wearing an identification card distributed to union supporters, according to Jeff Stansbury, the union’s political and education director.

So-called “contract shops” such as Proud Stitch have been extremely difficult targets for garment workers union organizers because they frequently go out of business abruptly and because their owners are particularly hostile to unionization in the belief that higher wages would be ruinous. The shops are under severe pressure from companies they supply to keep prices low.

Stansbury said the garment workers union was asked to begin an organizing drive at Proud Stitch two months ago by workers who complained about near-minimum wages and a lack of medical insurance. Workers were asked to sign cards stating their preference for representation.

Steve Nutter, the union’s Western states regional director, said the company responded with layoffs and firings aimed at union supporters.

Stansbury said one union supporter was fired Monday for talking about the union on his lunch break.

Robert Murphy, an attorney representing the company, said it has a posted no-solicitation rule that includes union solicitation on company time as grounds for termination.

Murphy also said there had been numerous acts of sabotage at the factory during the last several days.

Stansbury said Tuesday’s walkout began in the building’s basement, when the worker who was fired for wearing a union identification card was joined by dozens of colleagues. He said that when several of these workers attempted to go to the fourth floor, where the majority of employees sew garments, several of them were beaten by company security guards.