As part of its report “Unfair Advantage: Workers' Freedom of Association in the United States under International Human Rights Standards,” Human Rights Watch conducted a series of case studies in a dozen states, covering a variety of industries and employment sectors, analyzing the U.S. experience in the light of both national law and international human rights and labor rights norms. Presented here are the case studies of manufacturing workers.
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References
1.
GardnerG.Human Rights Watch interview, Baltimore, March 19, 1999.
2.
National Labor Relations Board Region 5. Consolidated Complaint and Notice of Hearing, Precision Thermoforming and Packaging, Inc. and United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, 5-CA-25642, 25699, 25802, 25805, 25853, April 7, 1997.
3.
MatthewsJ.Opportunity and disillusionment in Pigtown. Baltimore Sun, November 7, 1996, p. 1A.
4.
Complaint and Order of Hearing, Precision Thermoforming and Packaging, Inc. and United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, 5-CA-25642 et al., August 8, 1996.
5.
NLRB v. Gissel Packing Co. 395 U.S. 575 (1969).
6.
McQuaidK. L., and MatthewsJ.Baltimore employer of 600 to close. Baltimore Sun (Arundel Edition), March 20, 1997, p. 1A.
7.
U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Commerce, Commission on the Future of Labor-Management Relations. Fact Finding Report, May 1994, p. 74.
ValenzuelaJ.Human Rights Watch interview, July 8, 1999.
10.
Letters signed by Acme workers to NLRB General Counsel James K. Stevens, March 1988. On file with Human Rights Watch (Spanish originals translated by Human Rights Watch).
11.
Acme Die Casting. To the Employees of Acme Die Casting. Company memorandum announcing settlement and restoration of past practices, March 29, 1989. On file with Human Rights Watch.
12.
DavisT., UE representative. Human Rights Watch interview, Chicago, July 5, 1999.
13.
Acme Die Casting, a Division of Lovejoy Industries, Inc. v. NLRB, 26 F.3d 162 (D.C. Cir. 1994).
14.
KnowlesF.Acme Die workers to get $900,000. Chicago Sun-Times, March 3, 1998.
Acme Die Casting and United Electrical Workers (UE), 315 NLRB 202 (1994).
17.
National Labor Relations Board. NLRB Casehandling Manual, pt. 2, sect. 11120.
18.
Acme manager. Human Rights Watch telephone interview, July 8, 1999.
19.
JohnsonJ.Human Rights Watch interview, New Orleans, May 11, 1999.
20.
LightallB.Human Rights Watch interview, May 11, 1999.
21.
National Labor Relations Board. Decision of administrative law judge David L. Evans in Avondale Industries, Inc. and New Orleans Metal Trades Council, Cases 15-CA-12171–1 et al., February 27, 1998.
22.
JohnsonF.Human Rights Watch interview, May 11, 1999.
23.
ThompsonH.Human Rights Watch interview, May 11, 1999.
24.
SwobodaF.Avondale faces fine of $537,000 by OSHA. Washington Post, April 6, 1999, p. E2.
25.
National Labor Relations Board Decision and Order, Avondale Industries, Inc. and New Orleans Metal Trade Council, 329 NLRB No. 93 (November 10, 1999).
26.
VarnadoD.Human Rights Watch interview, New Orleans, May 11, 1999.
27.
Letter to Human Rights Watch from G. H. Jenkins, Jr., rear admiral, SC, U.S. Navy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research, Development and Acquisition, July 29, 1999. On file with Human Rights Watch.
28.
Avondale Industries, Inc. v. NLRB, No. 97–60708, 1999 U.S. App. LEXIS 15036, July 7, 1999.
29.
DarceK.Avondale to become union yard: Long labor dispute is over. New Orleans Times-Picayune, December 1, 1999, p. A1.
30.
U.S. General Accounting Office. Prevalence of Sweatshops. GAO/HEHS-95–29, November 2, 1994.
31.
SuJ.El Monte Thai garment workers: Slave sweatshops. In No Sweat: Fashion, Free Trade, and the Rights of Garment Workers, edited by RossA.. Verso, New York, 1997.
32.
CBS. 60 Minutes, Hiring Rosa Martinez. Broadcast September 27, 1992.
33.
ABC. Nightline, Paying to Lose Our Jobs. Broadcast September 29–30, 1992.
34.
GreenhouseS.Two-thirds of garment shops break wage laws, U.S. says. New York Times, October 17, 1997, p. A37.
35.
Los Angeles Jewish Commission on Sweatshops. Report. January 1999.
36.
McDonnellP. J.Jewish group urges reform of sweatshops. Los Angeles Times, February 1, 1999, p. B1.
37.
AppelbaumR. P.Global Commodity Chains, Emigrant Communities, and Labor in the Globalized Economy. UC MEXUS Global Migration Conference, Riverside, Calif., October 24–25, 1997.
38.
RamírezM.Human Rights Watch interview, New York, June 15, 1999.
39.
RodríguezE.Human Rights Watch interview, New York, June 15, 1999.
40.
WilsonB.Human Rights Watch interview, New York, June 15, 1999.
41.
ArellanoA.Human Rights Watch interview, New York, June 15, 1999.
