May Day Fund: Haitian Workers

May 1st is International Workers’ Day! 

This day began as a commemoration of Chicago workers’ fight for the 8 hour work day and the right to organize.

In Haiti, workers are still battling for these essential rights.

Haitian garment workers receive the lowest wage in the western hemisphere - 350 Gourdes, or US $5.40.

Their wages are consumed just by the transportation costs of getting to and from work.
Most live in debt, and on the brink of hunger and homelessness.

Production quotas in factories are often set impossibly high. Factory owners and management do not respect the law, and often do not pay the minimum wage. Union members and organizers are constantly harassed and arbitrarily fired for exercising their legal rights.

Batay Ouvriye (Workers Fight), is an independent workers’ movement in Haiti, with affiliated textile unions throughout Haiti – SOKOWA, SOVAGH & SOTA-BO. 

For May Day, they are holding marches and demonstrations across the country to bring attention to their fight for a decent wage that allows them to feed, clothe, house and educate themselves and their families.

With your support, the Rapid Response Network would like to raise $1,300 to support these workers May Day mobilizations.

Your contribution will be sent directly to Haiti to help pay for paper for printing leaflets, transportation costs for workers, meals to feed workers at meetings, and the costs of dealing with possible arrests. 

We'd like to send these funds on Monday, April 30, just in time for May Day - May 1st. 

All funds raised will be wired directly to Batay Ouvriye.

Every dollar counts and has a direct impact in helping these workers fight for their rights.

Thank you so much for standing with them! Solidarity Forever <3

To learn more about the Rapid Response Network, Click Here.