In January, David wrote an entry about sweatshops that interrogated whether, as Nicholas Kristof claims, they can and should be considered "a necessary evil". Not long after posting, Daniel Cardozo contacted us about the work that his company, Ethix Ventures, Inc., has been doing to help restrain the anti-sweatshop movement:

As far as we know, Ethix Ventures is unique. We're a distributor of eco-friendly, Union Made, Made in USA, and Fair Trade custom-printed merchandise.

As you might guess, thousands of organizations order custom-printed products every day. And while information about how individuals can order eco-friendly, domestic, union made and fairly traded products is fairly accessible, it is much harder for organizations to find out how to clean up their supply chains.

Everyone is affiliated with an organization - a business, religious group, camp, school, etc. - to some extent. A wave of socially conscious consumerism is already upon us, but why should it stop at consumer products? Many people already want to know that the organizations they support are, in turn, supporting socially responsible factories here and around the world.

Normally, we're wary of endorsing anything that has "Inc." tacked after its name, but the people over at Ethix Ventures seem to be thoroughly concerned with what's going on with sweatshop labors, and actively working to do something about it. Perhaps they should hook up with Justice Will Be Served! Thanks for reminding us that not all organizations and merchandise have to spout immorality and malevolence, Daniel.

Check out Daniel Cardozo's blog entry here.

JWBS is still going strong! Read more.

The official statement from JWBS:

Nail Salon Workers Announce Groundbreaking Victory!

Federal Court Rules Unanimously in Favor of Workers’ Claims Against Employer for Retaliation, Failure to Pay Overtime

This Tuesday, a group of nail salon workers, supporters, national women’s groups and elected officials will rally and announce their victory in a major battle against 167 Nail Plaza and 68 Nail Plaza salons. In March 2005, Susan Do Yea Kim was fired by Nail Plaza owners Dong Rim Park and Mou San Rim for simply requesting regular break times during the day.

On Friday, October 26, 2007, a jury for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled unanimously in favor of Ms. Kim, charging Nail Plaza for retaliatory firing and failure to pay overtime. Do Yea Kim and two of her co-workers were together awarded a total of over $200,000 in backpay and punitive damages, as well as reinstatement to their former positions.

The Nail Plaza workers are the first group of nail salon workers in the country to publicly stand up and expose the beauty industry's rampant labor violations, and the serious health effects of their prolonged exposure to toxic nail chemicals. The Nail Plaza workers, who have been picketing for the past 6 months, has also inspired elected officials, women and labor organizations, and medical experts to join together with JWBS to launch a Nail Salon Workers Network to call for greater changes in the largely unregulated nail salon industry.

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An abridged version of Anthony Han's Facebook message:

To all concerned peoples!

It is an exciting time indeed. Susan fought the Boss and she won! She won $40,000 to $50,000 more than she was entitled to. This is a pivotal moment in the history of labor movements with Susan's victory being the first in the nail salon industry. The result of Susan's victory could as momentous as the acts of Rosa Parks during the civil rights movement.

Despite her lawyers trying to push her to accept the lowest settlement, she continued and fought further for the justice of all working people.

Although her case has been won, we are still closing in on our larger goal. Many other nail salon workers are still facing sweatshop conditions-- poisonous toxic chemicals in the air, no breaks (even to use the bathroom ), and illegally low wages.

Quite a step since The Blaaag's last coverage, wouldn't you agree?

Note: This is not the official statement of the Justice Will Be Served! campaign.

Justice Will Be Served! Campaign pickets demanding justice for nail salon workers and industry-wide change in nail salons are currently every Sunday at 2pm, and Tuesday at 6pm at the 167 NAIL PLAZA salon (located at 167 Amsterdam Avenue, between 67th & 68th Streets). Some Columbia Asian American Alliance members are going to the picket this Sunday. Let us know if you're interested in attending.

Background of the case from the Justice Will be Served! Campaign:

Here in New York City the nail salon industry is booming from block to block, yet the conditions nail manicurists face are far from pretty. The Justice Will be Served! Nail Salon Network was sparked when a group of workers at the 167 Nail Plaza and 68 Nail Plaza salons were the first women to publicly stand up and expose the industry's shocking and exploitative conditions. Susan Kim, a Korean-American manicurist, was fired by Nail Plaza, Inc. owners Dong Rim Park and Mou Ran Rim for simply requesting break time during the day. Since then, her Chinese and Vietnamese co-workers have since joined her in calling for proper meal and break times, healthier work conditions, overtime pay, and an end to the retaliatory practices.

The example set by the Nail Plaza workers has paved the way for other women from across the tri-state area to stand up for their rights in an industry where women are routinely denied their basic rights and are dangerously exposed to chemical nail products. Many nail salon workers have reported serious skin and eye irritation, respiratory illnesses, and even miscarriage and infertility among the women stemming from prolonged exposure to acrylic powders and chemical-based nail glues and gels in poorly ventilated environments. In many salons, women workers are also prohibited from using the bathroom, taking meal breaks, or even wearing masks or gloves to protect themselves. Like the case of Nail Plaza, employers often use the women's different ethnicity and immigration status to keep them from coming together. Despite these increasing dangers, the industry remains largely unregulated by any government agencies and existing laws are not enforced. In addition, the majority of shops do not abide by basic wage laws, failing to pay overtime and sometimes minimum wage.

Now other women workers are standing together to make an example of Nail Plaza and to demand change in the entire industry. We hope you will join JWBS!'s Nail Salon Workers Network, along with NYS elected officials Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, State Senator Tom Duane, and City Councilmember Gale Brewer, Institute for Women and Work at Cornell University, ILR School; and Bellevue Hospital, on September 16th to kick off our campaign to call for:

1) Justice for the Nail Plaza workers
2) City-funding for a study and treatment program for nail salon workers
3) Government regulations to protect workers in the nail salon industry