The Sweatshop Experience
Dear Friend,We all know that sweatshops exist – even in our modern ethical society
– but no one talks openly about it, especially not people who have
worked in factories.And many people, including journalists, simply
do not understand how these illegal industries operate.
Today's Daily news article (text in-full at end of message), "City
controller hopeful John Liu touts youth in sweatshop - only family
says it never happened", is a case-in-point.
What began as a profile suddenly turned into a misleading piece of
'gotcha' journalism.A reporter asked for an interview with my
parents to talk about my childhood, and we gave her unfettered access.
My mom was very reluctant and embarrassed to talk about her
experience working in the garment industry.
After the interview, the reporter asked me for a paystub to prove I
actually worked in the factory.We attempted to explain to the
journalist how sweatshops actually work.Unfortunately, we were
unable to dislodge her preconceived ideas about how illegal practices
in the garment industry work.
Not all sweatshops look like a scene from 'Norma Rae' or other
Hollywood movies, with people toiling in neat rows in a factory
setting.These factories do exist, but in addition, some sweatshops
use overseas labor involving children as young as 6 years old.Others
– including the one my mother worked in – combined factory hours with
home-based piece work to maximize the exploitation and squeeze the
most out of workers: even after leaving the factory, the work never
ends.
Equally important for sweatshop owners are the weapons of intimidation
and shame, which keep parents from admitting they have involved their
own children in unlawful work situations.
For my parents and so many Asian parents, having worked in a sweatshop
is a shameful past and people choose to bury those memories.It’s
time we brought them out in the open and let people tell their stories
without being subjected to cynical attacks.
35 years ago, I worked with my mom – inside a sweatshop and at home.
For me, it’s not a shameful past.I make no apology for the work
ethic I gained from toiling away many hours in a factory, and I remain
as committed as ever to exposing and ending the sweatshop system.
I am running for Comptroller based on my record of accomplishments and
my fiscal expertise and my vision for what the Office can do.I am
also running to expand opportunity for the millions of New Yorkers who
don't have a job as well as those who work in sweatshops in the
retail, restaurant, laundry and many, many other industries.
Sincerely,
John C. Liu 本帖最后由 矿泉水98 于 2009-8-23 20:07 编辑
TNND，为了选举，把自己母亲都摆上枱，，自找苦吃。这样的人还出来选，嗨！
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