Friday, December 14, 2012

MEMORIAL FOR VICTIMS OF BANGLADESH FACTORY FIRE, FOLLOWED BY PROTEST OUTSIDE GOLDEN FARM OVER WAGES AND HOURS

Elected Officials, Bangladeshi Community to Hold Memorial 
for 112 Workers Killed in Fire at Garment Factory in Bangladesh

Group will show solidarity with workers 
of neighboring supermarket fighting for better wages 
and working conditions by protesting outside of store 

WHAT            Memorial for 112 workers killed in fire at garment factory in Bangladesh and protest of working conditions at Golden Farm Supermarket in Brooklyn

WHO:             Bangladeshi community leaders and members
                        Councilmember Brad Lander
                        Elected officials
                        United NY
                        Golden Farm Supermarket workers
                        Community members

WHEN:           Saturday, December 15 at 5:30 PM

WHERE:         Corner of McDonald Avenue and Church Avenue, Kensington, Brooklyn
                        http://goo.gl/maps/naJrm

WHY:             Last month, 112 workers were killed in a fire at a Bangladeshi garment factory that exposed the poor working conditions of foreign low-wage workers making garments for brand name American companies that supplied goods to Walmart. It was later exposed that Walmart blocked efforts to make retailers pay more for the garments in order to improve electrical and fire safety in the factories.

                        Brooklyn community members have been boycotting Kensington’s Golden Farm Supermarket, another low-wage employer.  Workers at the grocery store have reported being paid as little as $4.62 an hour, for working 72 hours a week.  The boycott began in July, following the death of store employee Felix Trinidad, who succumbed to cancer, after being unable to take time off to see a doctor.

                        Low-wage workers in NYC are uniting to fight back against economic exploitation, with fast food workers being the latest to join airport, car wash and supermarket workers in organizing for better pay and respect on the job. 

-----from the office of City Councilmember Brad Lander