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.

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.