On October 16th, the Worker-driven Social Responsibility Network brought together garment worker leaders from Lesotho, dairy workers from Vermont, and construction workers from Minnesota to share how they are using the WSR model to protect and enforce their own rights. The event was co-hosted by NEO Philanthropy, NoVo Foundation, the Freedom Fund and the SAGE Fund.
Lesotho women’s rights and trade unions tell us workers were only hired if they agreed to sexual relations with supervisors. If you’ve worn a pair of jeans, they may have been made in these factories.
“We are honored to be here to celebrate the victory of garment workers in Lesotho, and for whatever challenges that lie ahead, know that CIW will be there with you." - Gerardo Reyes Chavez from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers
The room then broke into small groups to discuss in greater detail the Lesotho agreement, as well as three other WSR initiatives.
The Milk with Dignity program is based on a legally binding contract that commits Ben & Jerry’s to implement a worker-driven human rights program in its Northeast dairy supply chain.
The Building Dignity and Respect Program (BDR) is designed to build a Twin Cities construction industry that advances the human rights of workers and the long-term interests of developers and contractors. The program focuses on non-union areas of the industry where the most severe abuses of workers’ rights are taking place in order to end these abuses and raise standards in the industry.
The event closed with a chant led by Gerardo Reyes-Chavez of CIW.