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Related News: Just Garments' business plan

The only unionized garment export factory in El Salvador that is worker-run and partially worker-owned, Just Garments is a sweatfree alternative of critical importance to the international worker rights movement. "Our on-going goal is to meet the expectations of conscientious consumers by providing high-quality, union-made products while at the same time improving our ability to compete in the global industry," Just Garments states on its website. Just Garments' plan is to produce "complete package" orders under their own label, but until they can do that, subcontracting work is essential for Just Garments' survival.

The Superior Uniform Group (SUG) is a significant provider to public purchasers in the United States, with a supplier in El Salvador, ICAT, which subcontracts to Just Garments. Upon request from the Just Garments union, which is affiliated with the Textile Workers Union (STIT), Campaign for Labor Rights, SweatFree Communities, United Students Against Sweatshops, and UNITE HERE recently requested SUG to direct ICAT to increase orders to Just Garments. SUG CEO, Michael Benstock appears supportive of Just Garments and of the union movement, but is unwilling to ask ICAT to increase production at Just Garments. Just Garments continues to receive orders from SUG, but not on a consistent basis, making it difficult to keep its work force fully employed. The lack of orders for Just Garments cannot be attributed solely to a downturn in business, as at least one other ICAT subcontractor currently has so many orders it has to sub-subcontract work to small workshops.

The situation is dire for Just Garments. Without increased orders from ICAT, Just Garments will have to lay off workers, jeopardizing their future.

Please contact Superior Uniform Group CEO, Michael Benstock, urging him to ask ICAT for a commitment of an adequate volume of product orders per week at a fair price. According to Just Garments, they can produce a volume of 9,000 chef uniforms with 120 workers; their full capacity is 190 workers. Steady, high-quantity orders for SUG uniforms would allow Just Garments to provide security to its present workforce, and provide steadily better conditions and higher wages to other workers. SUG would gain high quality uniforms that meet the highest sweatfree requirements of states, cities, and universities.

I am writing to echo the request made by labor rights organizations that you support a unionized factory in El Salvador that is already producing Superior Uniform products for export by increasing the quantity of orders being subcontracted to this factory from Fashion Seal (ICAT). As you already know, Just Garments is a proud and democratically worker-run producer of uniforms and other apparel for schools, colleges and universities in El Salvador and the United States and a viable "sweatfree" alternative in the global garment industry.

You initially responded to the request by stating that you could not tell your contractor where to outsource its production. I wish to remind you that on your website, a public declaration states that:

"Superior Uniform Group has company-controlled, dedicated plants in San Salvador, El Salvador and Tegucigalpa, Honduras. All of these manufacturers are privately owned companies that are under exclusive contract, guaranteeing that 100% of their production is performed for Superior. These relationships have been in place for almost 20 years, and existing operations have expanded to accommodate our ever-growing demand. Due to our private joint venture status, Superior has a substantial financial interest in these factories. Because of this, we view the issues of quality, employment practices, maintenance standards and all other compliance measures with a heightened sense of importance and significance."

In light of this statement, I believe that you do indeed have the power, influence and a clear interest in telling your supplier -in this case Fashion Seal (ICAT)- that it must source its production in unionized facilities, where they exist. You are fortunate that in El Salvador such a facility does exists, and has already proven that it can produce quality garments for your company. Just as importantly, Just Garments can produce these garments on a consistent basis, and in fact, needs to do so in order to continue to employ its workers. Superior can positively influence this situation by ensuring Just Garments receives a regular and adequate quantity of orders from Fashion Seal (ICAT).

I also understand that at least one Fashion Seal (ICAT) subcontractor in El Salvador currently has so many orders that they are having to outsource orders on a sub-sub-contractual basis, demonstrating that there is no shortfall of orders being assigned by Superior to El Salvador. These orders could be directed to Just Garments, a simple way to demonstrate Superior's dedication to workers' rights.

Superior Uniform Group should immediately meet with Just Garments and Fashion Seal (ICAT) to negotiate the quantity Just Garments would produce according to its ability and needs.

I therefore demand that you:

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
[your name]