Some American Apparel workers complain the armed guards and newly erected fence outside LA headquarters (shown) cause them to feel just like inmates.
American clothing workers state they feel more like prisoners than employees.
The difficult Los Angeles-based retailer became a fortress in the last weeks, they state, as tensions between employees and administration get to a crisis point over work grievances.
Armed protections are now stationed all over the 800, 000 square-foot headquarters, including into the lunch area, production places and parking area, while other security officials tend to be stationed by the entrances observe employees and visitors entering the chemical; a 10-foot fence is erected round the building; and an area of the parking area was fenced down, set aside for professionals.
Several 200 stitchers who had previously been stationed from the 7th flooring, where manager offices can be found, had been relocated to other floors a couple of weeks ago after an event where the la Police was called, according to workers.
“This is now like a prison, ” said one employee whom did not wish to be identified for fear of retribution.
The gulf amongst the 10, 000 United states Apparel employees and its administration hasn't been larger during the teetering store, which has laid off a number of hundred workers and cut-back hours and advantages.
Resources said the difficulty escalated on Aug. 10 whenever a small grouping of workers on seventh floor demanded to consult with CEO Paula Schneider to protest the firing of two employees that has just been elected to simply help unionize the workers.
Employees and a safety shield found myself in a scuffle; LAPD squad cars came soon after.
Schneider issued a memo explaining the event as an “aggressive assault” by current and previous staff members who have been “trying to intimidate” employees.
Listed here few days, all manufacturing staff members were moved from the 7th flooring, according to Nativo Lopez, a trustee for the executive board associated with General Brotherhood of Workers at American Apparel.
“The 7th flooring is sealed down, ” Lopez said, “Only professionals could possibly get here.”
The company performedn’t answer demands for comment.
Workers have-been regularly protesting from the residential property because the board ousted previous CEO and president, Dov Charney in December, keeping indications meant for taking him back.
However when the employees brought a pinata resembling Schneider to a protest on Aug. 19, and whacked it with a stick, Schneider issued a page calling it “truly appalling” and said she would perhaps not “tolerate physical or harmful behavior.”
Li'l Sebastian