BJ&B: A Worker-Student Victory in the Dominican Republic

BJ&B produces caps for Reebok, universities, and others, and is owned by one of the biggest cap producing companies in the world, Korea-based Yupoong. The contract provides for a 10% wage increase and other benefits.

The workers' impressive victory is a testament to the power of the student anti-sweatshop movement in the U.S. Pressure from the United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) on factories that produce collegiate apparel and the intervention of the student-inspired Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) helps sensitive brands like Reebok and Nike to apply and maintain sustained pressure on contractors to respect basic worker rights. USAS and the WRC have played critical roles in two of the region's most important maquila organizing victories in the past two years, first at Kuk Dong in Mexico and now at BJ&B. The importance of the BJ&B victory was reflected in a New York Times March 31, 2003 story.

Elsewhere in the Dominican Republic, there is no progress to report at two other maquila factories, SDC and K&S, where workers have won union recognition but not a contract.

Country Maquila Headlines:

The Guatemala Surprise
BJ&B: A Worker-Student Victory in the Dominican Republic
El Salvador's "Just Garments" Aptly Named
Honduran Workers Win Legal Recognition; Contract Next
Matamoros Garment Still Closed in Mexico
Maquilas