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Workers share horror stories
by Danny Valentine

http://www.dailyiowan.com/media/paper599/news/2005/11/16/Metro/Workers.Share.Horror.Stories-1058955.shtml?norewrite&sourcedomain=www.dailyiowan.com

Carpal tunnel syndrome, back problems, faulty
equipment, and the inability to unionize were the
problems plaguing Betty Fuentes, a Colombian
flower-plantation worker.
Across the Atlantic Ocean, Clementine Mthethwa
of Swaziland, a factory worker, complained of
drinking water shared with toilets and a dearth
of safety equipment.
The main characteristic the two workers share:
They both work for companies providing products
to Wal-Mart.

UI Students Against Sweatshops sponsored the two workers' Tuesday visit and lecture
about their abysmal working conditions - circumstances members say could be plaguing
workers producing Hawkeye apparel.

"Their stories could very well represent the actual working conditions of employees
who are making [clothing for Iowa]," said Julia Slocum, a Students Against Sweatshops
member.

Despite the anti-sweatshop group sending a letter to UI President David Skorton
earlier this year, the university has been slow to move on ensuring that its apparel
is manufactured safely, group members say.

"He seems willing to take action, and that is why we are surprised he has been slow
to act," said Ned Bertz, a Students Against Sweatshops member.

He added that the student group sent an invitation to Skorton to attend Tuesday's
presentation.

Both workers and hosts urged Americans to help, asking for them to send letters to
the government and to be more thoughtful shoppers - purchasing fair-trade and union
products whenever possible.

"I want you to reflect that there are many workers in the different flower
plantations so that all here have their flowers on the 14th of February," Fuentes
said through a translator at the Tuesday evening event.

Mthethwa was less forgiving.

"Even if we die, they don't care a damn about us," she said about her employers.

After their speeches, the UI student group showed a 20-minute documentary on
Wal-Mart, something Mthethwa said would be very useful in the fight against poor
working conditions.

Because the negative effect of large corporations, such as Wal-Mart, affects both
workers in the States as well as outside, the two-year machinist thinks "our campaign
will be successful."

Although both Fuentes and Mthethwa are current employees of these businesses, they
said they have protection and are not worried about educating the public about the
working conditions.

"I am not scared at all right now," Mthethwa said. "The people who are scared are the
factory owners."

E-mail DI reporter Danny Valentine at:
daniel-valentine@uiowa.edu



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I intend to last long enough to put out of business all *****-suckers
and other beneficiaries of the institutionalized slavery and genocide.

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"The army that will defeat terrorism doesn't wear uniforms, or drive
Humvees, or calls in air-strikes. It doesn't have a high command, or
high security, or a high budget. The army that can defeat terrorism
does battle quietly, clearing minefields and vaccinating children. It
undermines military dictatorships and military lobbyists. It subverts
sweatshops and special interests.Where people feel powerless, it
helps them organize for change, and where people are powerful, it
reminds them of their responsibility." ~~~~ Author Unknown ~~~~
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