by Red Beard

New developments in the struggle for justice on Saipan unfolded recently.
On August 9 Global Exchange announced that four corporations (Nordstrom, Cutter & Buck, J. Crew, and Gymboree) agreed to settle a class action lawsuit against them.  The lawsuit contested the sweatshop conditions in Saipan.  Several other corporations, including the biggest buyer of sweatshop-produced goods in Saipan, the Gap, are still fighting the lawsuit.  As part of the $1.25 million settlement, the corporations agreed to fund an independent monitoring system to ensure compliance with U.S. labor laws and international treaties to protect human rights. The settlement also included provisions for partial damages to the workers and for creating a public education campaign to broaden consumer awareness. The corporations also agreed to not use contractors that use “recruitment fees.”
While corporate accounts have discounted the settlement because of its low cost, activists are enthusiastic about what independent monitoring means for working conditions in the sweatshops.  Medea Benjamin, Director of Global Exchange’s Corporate Accountability Campaign affirmed, “This settlement is a human rights victory for the workers. . . .  The spotlight is now on the Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, Wal-Mart, and others that insist on business as usual.  Where’s their conscience?” She urged people to call the Gap at 1-800-333-7899 and urge them to settle the lawsuit as well.
In contrast to this victory, Texas activists were stonewalled at a recent visit to House Majority Whip Tom Delay’s office.  Chie Abad and Global Exchange targeted Tom Delay because he received a lobbyist-paid vacation in Saipan and has called Saipan a “free market success.”  He also opposes legislation that would impose federal labor standards on Saipan.  Delay’s view of Saipan is very different from the one that Chie experienced as a worker in the island’s sweatshops.
However, Delay’s aides were not available to hear about this experience.  “The receptionist said that the meeting had been canceled and that their office had informed Global Exchange,” said Bob Buzzanco, who accompanied Chie from Houston to Delay’s office.  But Global Exchange had no record of any cancellation.  “At that point we said we wanted the situation straightened out.  But two Capitol Police officers then arrived, obviously called by Delay’s office,” explained Bob. “They asked for our driver’s licenses, which we refused to hand over, pointing out that we were there for an appointment, we were simply citizens simply trying to talk to a public official.”
Bob was disappointed, but not surprised that Tom Delay’s office did not want to receive information contrary to that of lobbyists and campaign contributors. He pledged to press Delay’s office about the false cancellation and their lack of concern for citizen input.