MaquilaSolidarityNetwork MaquilaSolidarityNetwork

Annual Report

2 AS THE US FINANCIAL CRISIS BECAME A GLOBAL ECONOMICcrisis in early 2009, the potential to make advances forlabour and women’s rights seemed bleak. The crisis hashad a devastating impact on garment producing countriesand on garment workers. In Mexico and Central America,the communities in which the majority of our partnergroups work were hit by a new wave of factory closures,worker layoffs and production slow-downs. The crisis andits impact on workers, women and communities was acentral theme of our work for most of the year.

The June 29 military coup in Honduras had a dramaticimpact on our partners in that country and throughout Cen-tral America. After the coup, Honduran women’s groups,unions and labour rights NGOs had to shift the focus ofmuch of their work to resisting attacks on human rights andcivil liberties by the de facto government.

ON NOVEMBER 19, NEIL KEARNEY, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE, GARMENT AND LEATHERWorkers’ Federation (ITGLWF), died in his sleep of a heart attack in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He was 59. For over twodecades, Neil championed the rights of workers in the global garment industry. He also played a leadership role invarious multi-stakeholder initiatives, including the MFA Forum, the Ethical Trading Initiative and Social Accounta-bility International. It is largely because of Neil’s tireless efforts that labour rights have been made a priority formany companies in the sector. Neil was a close friend and colleague of MSN. He is greatly missed.

In spite of these economic and political setbacks, ourpartners continued to organize and, in some cases,achieved significant victories. In Honduras, for example,workers and their international allies won a breakthroughvictory when Russell Athletic and the union representingworkers who lost their jobs when Russell closed its union-ized Jerzees de Honduras factory reached an agreement,providing employment for the 1,200 workers in a newunionized factory. The victory, which is detailed in this re-port, is a testimony to the resilience and perseverance ofthe workers, their union and their national and interna-tional supporters.

As you’ll see from this report, MSN was active on manyfronts in 2009. We played an important role in campaignspromoting workers’ right to freedom of association in Mex-ico, Central America and Asia. And we worked with ourCanadian and international allies to engage with compa-

nies to take steps to eliminate systemic problems in theglobal garment industry – poverty wages, precarious em-ployment, the lack of freedom of association and healthand safety hazards linked to unrealistic production targetsand excessive working hours.

As we look forward to 2010, we want to thank ourfriends and allies around the world with whom we haveworked closely over the past year. And of course, I want toparticularly acknowledge the critical role played by thelocal women’s groups, unions and labour rights NGOs thatwork directly with the young women and men wholabour behind the labels in maquila factories and freetrade zones. They are the heart and soul of the globallabour rights movement.

Lynda YanzMSN Executive Director

Dear friends and supporters

RememberingNeil Kearney

3MSN promotes fair labour practices and respect for labour and women’s rightsthrough two interconnected strategies: intensive work with partners in theSouth; and advocacy, engagement and campaigning at the international level.

Strategic Collaboration with Southern partners

Strengthening Southern VoicesMSN works with Southern partners to strengthen their capacity to documentworker rights abuses and effectively engage with and pressure companies and gov-ernment to respect workers’ rights.

Facilitating South / South ExchangeMSN promotes exchange and collaboration among our Southern partners (particu-larly in the Americas, but also between Asia and Latin America) through informationexchange, workshops and multi-stakeholder forums.

International Advocacy, Engagement and Campaigning

AdvocacyMSN facilitates dialogue between our Southern partners and international buyers(retailers and brands) in order to use buyer leverage to help achieve solutions toproblems in their supplier factories.

Engagement MSN works through multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) at the international level toidentify and promote industry-wide solutions to systemic problems and to promoteboth voluntary and regulatory approaches to reverse the “race to the bottom.”

Campaigning MSN promotes solidarity with workers in global supply chains struggling to win im-proved wages and working conditions. We also promote links between ethical con-sumers and investors, public institutions, trade unions and the workers who makeour products.

How does MSN make change happen?

THIS PAGE: Demonstration for democracy in Honduras

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STRATEGIC COLLABORATION WITH SOUTHERN PARTNERS

IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARTNERS SEMILLAS ANDMUTUAC, MSN convened a series of capacity-building andstrategy workshops with a loose network of Mexican localand national labour and women’s rights organizations thatdefend workers’ rights in the garment, electronics, auto-parts and agro-export sectors. Workshop participants dis-cussed and developed strategies around the economiccrisis, labour law reform, precarious employment and free-dom of association.

In December, MSN and Semillas convened a trainingworkshop with representatives from three women’s labourrights organizations in the state of Coahuila to better docu-ment chronic injuries commonly suffered by maquila gar-ment workers.

Investigating labour rights violationsIn response to a request from Colectivo Raiz (CR), a women’slabour rights group in Aguascalientes, Mexico with whom

MSN has worked over many years, MSN conducted workerinterviews and prepared a report on alleged violations ofworkers’ rights at factories owned by one of Levi Strauss’main suppliers in Aguascalientes. MSN convened and facili-tated a meeting between Levi’s and Colectivo Raiz at whichLevi’s committed to several of the report’s recommenda-tions, including carrying out an independent investigation ofthe sub-contractor’s four facilities.

Investigating Wal-Mart MexicoIn 2009, MSN became a member of Red Puentes (RP) Mexico,a civil society network promoting corporate social responsi-bility (CSR). MSN was asked to take the lead in analyzing theCSR reports of Wal-Mart Mexico (Wal-Mex), the largest pri-vate sector employer in the country. In 2010, MSN and RPwill attempt to engage with Wal-Mex on the report’s find-ings and recommendations.

Strengthening Southern Voices

Looking beyond garmentIn 2009, MSN began to work more closely with CEREAL, a Je-suit human rights organization in Mexico that promotes re-spect for workers’ rights in the electronics sector. MSNsupported CEREAL’s campaign against violations at a Nokiafacility in Reynosa and facilitated connections with ourNicaraguan partner the Movement of Working and Unem-ployed Women, Maria Elena Cuadra (MEC). This has set thestage for collaboration in 2010 on two key issues facing work-ers in both the garment and electronics industries – precari-ous employment and barriers to freedom of association.

ABOVE: Participants in Espacio workshops, MexicoNEXT PAGE: International Forum on Multinational Corporations and Protection Contracts, November 2009

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Fighting Protection Contracts and Promoting Freedom of Association in Mexico MSN IS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST PROTECTION CONTRACTS.

“Protection Contracts” are collective bargaining agreements signed between companies and “officialunions” without the knowledge or consent of the affected workers. They are intended to “protect” busi-nesses from the formation of a legitimate union, which might then demand increased pay, benefits, andbetter working conditions for its members. In 2009, MSN:l Published What Can Brands Do to Support Freedom of Association in Mexico?, a set of proposals for

companies sourcing from Mexico on how to promote freedom of association in their supplier facto-ries.1 MSN consulted extensively with Mexican and international trade unions, civil society organiza-tions and labour rights experts in developing the proposals before convening talks with apparelbrands on how to put them into practice.

l Co-sponsored an international forum on Multinational Corporations and Protection Contracts in Mex-ico City in November, which examined institutional barriers to freedom of association in Mexico andstrengthened international support for the Campaign Against Protection Contracts.

1 What Can Brands Do to Promote Freedom of Association in Mexico? is available at: www.maquilasolidarity.org/What-Can-Brands-Do

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STRATEGIC COLLABORATION WITH SOUTHERN PARTNERS

Regional Coalition and Strategy Building In late November, MSN co-sponsored a public forum andregional exchange workshop in Mexico City on Women,Labour Rights and Democracy in a Time of Crisis.3 The work-shop/exchange brought together women working onlabour rights issues in Central America and Mexico. Thepublic forum addressed the impact of the economic crisison women workers and the political crisis in Honduras.These groups will meet again in 2010.

MSN also maintains ongoing links with Hong Kong-based groups active in China, and with trade union andworker support organizations in Cambodia, Bangladesh,Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and elsewhere in Asia.

MSN PROMOTES SOUTH/SOUTH EXCHANGES BETWEENwomen organizers and labour rights advocates in theAmericas, and between Asia and the Americas. ThroughSouth-South exchanges, women leaders learn from eachother’s experiences and explore possibilities for collabora-tion. In 2009, MSN facilitated a number of exchanges:

l In January, two representatives of the Honduran Inde-pendent Monitoring Team (EMIH) participated in a ca-pacity building and strategy workshop with Mexicangroups in Mexico City to discuss impacts and responsesto the economic crisis;

l In March, representatives of Colectivo Raiz and the Mex-ican popular theatre group Costureras de Sueños(Dream Weavers) took part in the annual MEC collo-quium in Nicaragua, which brought together over 1,500MEC members, most of whom are maquila workers.Members of the popular theatre group performed an

excerpt from their play The Maquila Monologues, whichreceived a standing ovation.

l In May, MSN’s Mexico staff person and a representativeof the Coahuila labour rights group SEDEPAC (Service,Development and Peace) attended a conference inHonduras on the impacts of work in the maquilas onwomen’s health. The conference was organized by theHonduran Women’s Collective (CODEMUH) in collabora-tion with the regional ILO office and the Honduran Min-istry of Labour. SEDEPAC’s participation in theconference served as an impetus for the Decembertraining workshop mentioned on page 4.

l In September, MEC’s Executive Director Sandra Ramos,accompanied by MSN’s Mexico staff person, attended aconference in Seoul, Korea on innovative strategies forwomen’s organizing.2 Plans for a follow-up exchangeare now underway.

“These exchanges are critical. In an era ofglobalization and particularly in this momentof economic crisis, there is an increasing needfor women to share organizing strategies anddisseminate best practices.” – Sandra Ramos, MEC

Facilitating South/South Collaboration

2 The conference was hosted by the Korean Women Work-ers Academy and the Korean Women’s Trade Union, one ofthe only women’s unions in Asia. See “Korean women’s con-ference explores innovative organizing strategies” in ourDecember newsletter at:www.maquilasolidarity.org/sites/maquilasolidarity.org/files/2009-12_MSN_Update_14.3.pdf

3 Both the forum and workshop were co-sponsored withSemillas and the Central American Women’s Fund.

LEFT: Sandra Ramos, Executive Director, MEC

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INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY, ENGAGEMENT & CAMPAIGNING

MANY PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF MSN’S PUBLIC CAMPAIGNSagainst specific labour rights abuses and for solutions totackle systemic problems in global supply chains. How-ever, MSN spends much of its time behind the scenes, lob-bying companies and multi-stakeholder initiatives onbehalf of our Southern partners.

For example, in 2009 MSN responded to a complaintfrom the Honduran women’s group Colectivo de MujeresHondureñas (CODEMUH) regarding health and safetyproblems and worker injuries related to the pace of pro-duction and excessively long workdays at T-shirt manufac-turer Gildan Activewear’s Honduran facilities. Working

together the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and the WorkerRights Consortium (WRC), we called on Gildan to co-oper-ate with an independent assessment by health and safetyexperts.

In response to a request from the Worker Support Cen-tre (CAT) to support the struggle of workers at the John-son Controls auto parts plant in Puebla, Mexico, MSNbecame active in an international solidarity committee de-fending their rights.4 Workers at the factory are fighting fora democratic union and against the unethical use of third-party employment agencies to deny them their legal enti-tlements.

Political Crisis in HondurasIN RESPONSE TO THE JUNE 28 MILITARY COUP IN HONDURASand resulting repression against civil society, MSN called onmajor apparel brands sourcing from the country to break rankwith the pro-coup business lobby and speak out in favour of areturn to democracy and respect for human and labour rightsand civil liberties.

On July 27, a joint Open Letter from Nike, adidas, Gap andKnights Apparel was delivered to US Secretary of State,Hillary Clinton, calling for a return to democracy in Honduras.The brand statement received extensive media coverage inHonduras and internationally.5

MSN coordinated with labour rights and women’s organi-zations in Honduras to monitor violations against maquilaworkers and resistance activists. In Canada, MSN worked withCanadian union and NGO partners to pressure the Canadiangovernment to alter its position on the coup.

Advocacy

4 The committee includes US-LEAP, the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center, United Steelworkers (in Canada andthe US), the US and Canadian autoworkers unions, and the International Metal Workers’ Federation.

5 The joint brand letter is available at: www.maquilasolidarity.org/node/891

LEFT: Workers from the Johnson Controls plant inPuebla, MexicoABOVE: Vanessa Yamileth Zepeda, 27 year old unionleader, mother and nurse assassinated in Honduras

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8 BEFORE LAUNCHING CAMPAIGNS ON WORKER RIGHTSabuses, MSN attempts to engage with companies thatown or source from problem factories, urging them tohold their suppliers accountable and remediate workerrights violations.

MSN also engages with companies directly andthrough multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) concerning in-dustry-wide problems, such as precarious employment,job insecurity, violations of freedom of association, andpoverty wages.

MSN believes that MSIs, through which brands, tradeunions and NGOs collaborate to seek solutions to prob-lems endemic to global supply chains, can play a criticalrole in achieving sustainable progress on worker rights. In2009, we focused our efforts on two MSIs in particular, theFair Labor Association (FLA) and the MFA Forum (MFAF).

Fair Labor Association MSN is an active member of the FLA’s NGO Caucus, whichgives civil society a voice in the FLA alongside universitiesand companies. MSN’s work within the FLA played a keyrole in the historic victory achieved by workers at RussellAthletics’ Jerzees factory. (See “A Historic Victory forMaquila Workers in Honduras,” p. 9.)

Throughout 2009, MSN lobbied for improvements inthe FLA Code of Conduct and Benchmarks on hours ofwork, security of employment, a living wage, and freedomof association. If the NGO Caucus’ proposed changes areadopted, the revised FLA Code will raise the bar on labourstandards for FLA member companies, which include thelargest international sportswear brands.

In October, after consulting with key allies, MSN agreedto become a member of the FLA Board of Directors as anNGO representative.

MFA ForumThe Multi-Fibre Arrangement Forum (MFAF) is a multi-stakeholder initiative founded in late 2004. It promotes re-sponsible practices by apparel companies during thetransition period following the termination of the interna-tional import quota system. MSN is a member of the MFAFAmericas Working Group and chairs its Mexico Committee.

In August, MSN took the lead in organizing a MFAF stake-holder forum in Mexico City. Forum participants discussedthe impact of the economic crisis on the garment sector inthat country and how to best promote a sustainable appareland footwear industry for the future based on decent workand technical innovation rather than low prices and sweat-shop conditions. The forum was unique in bringing togethergovernment, industry, brands, unions and labour rights or-ganizations from Mexico and buyer countries.

Fair Trade StandardsTransFair USA, a third-party certifier of Fair Trade productsin the United States, has been developing standards forcertification of “fair trade” garments. In 2009, MSN workedwith US counterparts in an attempt to ensure that anystandards adopted do not undercut international de-mands of the anti-sweatshop movement.

INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY, ENGAGEMENT & CAMPAIGNING

Engagement

NEXT PAGE: Unionized workers holding up the first t-shirt at the new Jerzees Nuevo Día factory, Honduras.

9An Historic Victory for Maquila Workers in Honduras MSN played a critical role in a precedent-setting campaign de-fending the rights of 1,200 Honduran workers who lost theirjobs when Russell Athletic closed its Jerzees de Honduras fac-tory during first-contract negotiations with the workers’ newlyformed union.

MSN joined with the workers’ union, the Honduran GeneralWorkers Confederation (CGT) and the Clean Clothes Campaign(CCC) in filing a third-party complaint with the Fair Labor Asso-ciation (FLA). MSN also lobbied Canadian universities andCanadian and US retail buyers of Russell products to ceasedoing business with the company until it took significant stepsto remediate the situation and compensate the workers.

As a result of these efforts, Russell’s membership in the FLAwas put under review, and the company was instructed to ne-gotiate with the workers’ union. On November 14, Russell andthe union signed an historic agreement in which the companycommitted to opening a new unionized factory, rehiring andproviding substantial financial assistance to the 1,200 laid-offemployees, instituting joint union-management training onfreedom of association at its other Honduran facilities, andadopting a position of neutrality with respect to unionization.

This victory was particularly significant given that Russelland its parent company Fruit of the Loom are the largest pri-vate employers in Honduras, with over 10,000 workers.6

6 See “Historic victory: Jerzees de Honduras workers win break-throughagreement” in our December Maquila Solidarity Update at: www.maquilasol-idarity.org/sites/maquilasolidarity.org/files/2009-12_MSN_Update_14.3.pdf.

up to the Play Fair Campaign’s 2008 Clearing the Hurdlesreport (written by MSN), which indentified four critical is-sues blocking progress in achieving decent working con-ditions in the sportswear industry.

In preparation for the February 2010 Vancouver WinterOlympic Games, in 2009 MSN designed a web-based actiontool in English, French and Spanish, rating and comparingbrand commitments to meeting key labour rights targetsset out in the report. The website allows consumers to helppush brands to meet the campaign’s labour rights targets.7

Launched in January 2010, the action tool gener-ated thousands of letters to the brands.MSN also developed a series of shortClearing the Hurdles video ads for thesite, which were re-posted on coali-tion partner websites throughoutCanada and internationally.

10 PUBLIC CAMPAIGNS ARE OFTEN NECESSARY TO DRAW attention to workers’ struggles for decent wages andworking conditions, and to bring pressure on companiesand governments to take responsibility for worker rightsviolations.

During the year, MSN played a critical role in a numberof important campaigns, both internationally and inCanada. One of the most successful campaigns focused onRussell Athletic and its parent company Fruit of the Loom(see page 9).

Play Fair at the OlympicsThroughout 2009, MSN was an active member of the PlayFair Campaign Sportswear Committee, together with theClean Clothes Campaign (CCC), the International Textile,Garment and Leather Workers Federation (ITGLWF), andOxfam Australia. The Committee has coordinated follow-

INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY, ENGAGEMENT & CAMPAIGNING

Campaigning

7 See www.clearingthehurdles.org/

11The PhilippinesIn response to a request from MSN’s Filipino partner theWorkers’ Assistance Centre (WAC), MSN mobilized Cana-dian faith, non-governmental and labour organizations tolobby the Philippine government to cease the prosecutionof workers and worker rights advocates on trumped upcharges. MSN also lobbied in favour of a high-level ILOmission to the country to investigate the situation. Themission took place in September; MSN is awaiting the finalreport.

No Sweat Campaign: Ethical Purchasing PoliciesIn past years, MSN campaigned successfully for the adop-tion of ethical purchasing policies by municipal andprovincial governments, universities and school boardsacross Canada. In May, MSN met with senior officials of theCity of Toronto to advise them on how to effectively imple-ment their ethical purchasing policy. In 2010, MSN will beengaging with representatives of key municipalities topromote Canada-wide collaboration on implementationof their policies.

Responsible Cotton CampaignIn 2009, there was growing international pressure onbrands to boycott Uzbekistan cotton until the Uzbek gov-ernment makes a commitment to end state-sponsoredchild labour. The brands were also lobbied to increasetransparency in their supply chains to track cotton produc-tion. MSN worked with the Retail Council of Canada andthe Shareholder Association for Research and Education toeducate Canadian companies and investors about the useof forced child labour in Uzbekistan.

Urgent ActionsThroughout the year, MSN mobilized participation in ur-gent action campaigns in support of workers’ organizingefforts and for protection of union organizers and humanrights activists in Thailand, the Philippines, the DominicanRepublic, Honduras, Haiti, Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina,Bangladesh, and other countries around the world.8

INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY, ENGAGEMENT & CAMPAIGNING

8 MSN’s latest urgent action appeals can be found atwww.maquilasolidarity.org/actions/urgentaction

ABOVE RIGHT: Union leader Jittra Cotchadet fights union-bustingby the Triumph International corporation in ThailandRIGHT: Workers at the Golden Will factory, Philippines

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12 A WIDE RANGE OF LABOUR AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS ADVO-cates and other stakeholders rely on MSN’s analysis andpublications. All our resources, including our website, areavailable in English and Spanish.

In 2009, MSN published three issues of our newsletter,the Maquila Solidarity Update, featuring articles on theeconomic crisis, the political crisis in Honduras, the AsiaFloor Wage Campaign, and the Campaign Against Protec-tion Contracts in Mexico. We also began a new series of ar-ticles profiling women leaders and their organizations,including Inti Barrios of the popular theatre collective Cos-tureras de Sueños, Cecille Tuico of the Workers AssistanceCentre in the Philippines on organizing in the Cavite FreeTrade Zone, and MEC’s Director Sandra Ramos on the im-portance of Asia – Latina exchange.9 Our e-bulletin, TheWire, provided links to campaign updates and new re-sources, and mobilized support for campaigns throughoutthe year.

As part of our response to the June 29Honduras coup, MSN developed a specialsection of our website offering updatesand analysis of the coup, with a focus onrepression against civil society groups.10

MSN also maintained a daily links page on delicious.comto update our network on developments in Honduras.

Thematic publications:In January 2009, MSN published an extensive report onour November 2008 regional forum in Honduras, entitledMFA+3: Labour Rights in a Changing Industry. Available onour website, the report shares analytical powerpoint pre-sentations on the garment industry and brand leveragestrategies as well as assessments by leaders of women’sand labour rights organizations in the Americas on priori-ties for action in the coming years.11

Over the year, MSN published five spe-cial reports documenting and assess-ing the impacts of the globaleconomic crisis on garment workersand the garment industry. MSN publi-

cations on the economic crisis are available in a specialsection of our website.12

MSN’s publication What Can Brands Do to Support Freedom ofAssociation in Mexico? is being used to guide extensive en-gagement with companies on concrete actions they can taketo improve respect for freedom of association in Mexico.13

MSN in the Media in 2009MSN’s work received extensive media coverage in Canadaand internationally. MSN also expanded its communica-tions focus to target non-traditional media such as blogsand e-zines, resulting in wider broadcasting of MSN newsand statements.

PUBLICATIONS

9 English versions are available for download at www.maquila-solidarity.org/resources/MNUpdate.

10 Visit: www.maquilasolidarity.org/honduran_coup

11 The full report, including an extensive selection of resourcesmaterials and presentations from the seminar, is available onour website, at: www.maquilasolidarity.org/mfa3/report/

12 Visit: www.maquilasolidarity.org/issues/economiccrisis

13 Available at: www.maquilasolidarity.org/node/882

Publications

LEFT: Union leader MoisesMontoya shares MSN’snewsletter at a workers’assembly, Honduras

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FinancesYear ended December 31, 2009

Revenue2009 2008

GrantsChurches $31,027 $38,900Non-governmental organizations $9,565 $47,684European and U.S. foundations $389,348 $337,269Canadian labour funds $75,500 $91,500

Membership DonationsIndividual $14,313 $13,565Organizational $12,598 $13,371

Publication Sales & Forums $781 $6,562Consultancies $5,833 $21,724Interest and foreign exchange $6,139 $10,055

Total $545,104 $580,630

Expenses

Office overhead $38,392 $35,759Administration and fundraising $42,519 $43,562Southern Program $214,946 $270,194Policy, Research and Analysis $141,551 $144,133Education and communication $92,912 $81,832

Total $530,320 $575,480

Breakdown of 2009 Expenses:

STAFF CHANGESAt the end of March, Bob Jeffcott,a founder and long-time policyanalyst with MSN, ended full-time employment in order tospend more time writing and topursue other interests. Bob hascontinued to work with MSN on avolunteer basis. Alda Escareñoleft MSN in early 2009 in order topursue her passion for art. AylwinLo, our Communications Coordi-nator, returned to school for ad-vanced studies in New Media. Inlate 2008 and early 2009, MSNhired two new staff – FernandoCabrera, Communications Coor-dinator, and Elsa Arismendi, LatinAmerica Program Officer.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORSDavid Mackenzie, PresidentMoira Hutchinson, Vice PresidentMusonda Kidd, SecretaryDenny Young, Treasurer Melanie Oliviero Ann WestonSuzanne Rumsey

STAFFLynda Yanz, Executive DirectorKevin Thomas, Director of AdvocacyAna Enriquez, Education and Outreach Officer (Mexico)Anamika Mujoo Girottee, Executive AssistantFernando Cabrera, Communications CoordinatorElsa Arismendi, Latin America Program OfficerAnibal Viton, Translation (Argentina)

Maquila Solidarity Network

606 Shaw St.Toronto, OntarioCanada M6G 3L6tel: 416-532-8584fax: 416-532-7688www.maquilasolidarity.org

Mexico office:Cerrada de Mazatlán 12Col. CondesaC.P. 06140México, D.F.www.es.maquilasolidarity.org

Except where material is attributed to another party, all contents attributed toMSN herein are licensed under a CreativeCommons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Canada License

www.maquilasolidarity.org

ABOVE: Participants in the regional exchange workshop in Mexico City on Women, Labour Rights and Democracy in a Time of Crisis, November 2009FRONT: Jerzees de Honduras workers vote in favour of a precedent-setting agreement, November 2009 (PHOTO: JEREMY BLASI)