Organizations

Just Garments

Just Garments is the only unionized maquila factory in El Salvador. Their union is STIT; this is a union for textile workers. In approximately 2001 the workers at the factory began to voice their desires to be treated fairly and to receive better wages. There were bitter, heated debates between the workers who spoke out and the owners of the factory. Over time the union became stronger and they are now treated fairly. Currently they are working on having their own contracts with companies. However, this is a slow process and often times they are met with resistance because companies refuse to pay a fair wage for the products produced. Other factories in the area sometimes sell out part of their contracts to Just Garments to complete because they get behind in their own contracts. Just Garments pay their employees $5.90 a day, typically 8 hours a day. Non-union maquilas pay $5.30 a day. To read more about Just Garments’ company, their struggle, and history please visit their website. It does a great job in telling the history of the company.

Non-union clothing factories are typically called sweat-shops. This is because the workers are often forced to work long hours without breaks. The work environment is stressful and often hazardous. What the person making the clothing earns is often pennies compared to the sale price of those items. Students Against Sweatshops is a group that speaks out against horrible conditions and they try to raise awareness to the cause. No Sweat Apparel sells and advocates for clothing made without human suffering.