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NEWS & LETTERS, December 2002
Assi market march
Los Angeles--Hundreds marched and demonstrated through
Koreatown to support jointly the 60 Assi Supermarket workers and sweatshop
laborers of Forever 21 Clothing. Fifty Latinos and 10 Korean workers were fired
(placed on "non-disciplinary indefinite suspension") by Korean-owned
Assi Supermarket when they had filed charges of discrimination and wage/hour
violations, and attempted to self-organize a union, Immigrant Workers Union, to
address their inhuman and expoloitative working conditions. The Assi and Forever 21 workers were supported by community
people, mostly youths representing various student, labor support and community
cultural organizations, including Korean Immigrant Worker Advocate. A preacher
gave a strong speech, calling on owner Daniel Rhee to give back what he stole
from the Assi workers and rights to a union. Betty Diaz spoke of having worked
so hard for two years and being rewarded with termination along with her
husband. Though their problems have multiplied, she is determined to win this
battle for justice, which includes reinstatement, recoup of unpaid wages and an
end to racism and exploitation. Two of the signs held were "Pay the workers, not the
lawyers" and "ASSI--Forever 21--shopping here supports
exploitation." Meanwhile, 20 to 40 workers gather daily to picket Assi
Market into the fourth month and weekly at Forever 21 at Beverly Center Mall. --Basho |
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