Garment Workers Protest Great Wall Corp

Workers Demand Manufacturer Accountability and End to Retaliation

August 11, 2009 @ 12pm noon
in front of Great Wall Corp.

Garment workers held a demonstration against Great Wall Corp. and Silver Fashion, Inc. for failing to pay the workers minimum wage and overtime, and retaliating against workers who stood up. In this case, the husband, Ping Nen Lin, operated the garment manufacturer Great Wall Corp. while his wife, Xiao Yan Lin, operated Silver Fashion, a factory located in the same space as, and producing clothing exclusively for Great Wall Corp. Workers labored over 100 hours a week, and sometimes through the entire night to finish orders. On top of this, the employers would deduct 5% from their wages, and reduce their piece-rate. When workers came together to file a lawsuit against Great Wall Corp., Silver Fashion and its owners, the employers shut down part of their operation, claiming the factory and manufacturing company were completely separate, in order to stop the workers from organizing. Despite the recent Zheng v. Liberty Apparel decision which found the manufacturer responsible for the labor law violations of its subcontracted factory, Great Wall Corp. and other manufacturers still think they are above the law.The Great Wall workers, joined by other workers, Ain't I a Woman?! campaign, NOW NYC,and Global Kids are demanding manufacturer accountability, and that their employer compensate them and hire them back.