Mainecat Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Meet The Workers Who Sewed Donald Trump Clothing For A Few Dollars A Day Employees at a textile factory that made Trump shirts report dangerous, abusive conditions — harsh even for Honduras. posted on Jul. 22, 2016, at 11:38 a.m. CHOLOMA, Honduras — Hour after hour, the workers bent over sewing machines in a sweltering factory here. Despite indoor temperatures above 100 degrees, they said, they limited themselves to small sips of water for fear that even bathroom breaks would cause them to miss their production quotas and lose desperately needed pay. “You have to put up with it to have an income,” said one supervisor whose white hair was pulled back in a loose bun. She asked not to be named for fear of being fired from her job. In recent years, she said, that job included sewing shirts emblazoned with Donald Trump’s brand. As a candidate, Trump has campaigned on a platform of bringing American jobs back to the U.S. “Craftsmen and tradespeople and factory workers have seen the jobs they loved shift thousands and thousands of miles away,” he said during a speech in Pennsylvania last month. “Now it’s time for the American people to take back their future.” But when it comes to his own businesses, Trump has for years relied on cheap labor in overseas factories to manufacture clothing for his line of men’s suits, shirts, and ties sold under the Trump label available at Amazon and, until last year, Macy’s. The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment about the clothing or its production. From 2004 until last year, Trump contracted with apparel giant Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, or PVH. PVH, in turn, subcontracted some production to Protexsa, a garment manufacturing company owned by one of Honduras’ wealthiest families. Activists said that Protexsa was known for tough working conditions even in a country where workers are frequently abused and silenced. “We suffer from the moment we come in until the moment we leave.” BuzzFeed News used government shipping records to determine that Trump’s shirts were shipped from the Protexsa factory complex in Choloma, an industrial city on the country’s east coast. The data are collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and were compiled by enigma.io, a company that provides public access to obscure government data troves. On Dec. 31, 2012, a ship carrying about 4,000 charcoal-colored Trump men’s shirts arrived in Miami from the Protexsa operation in Choloma, the records show. The earliest shipping date in the records was 2007. Two supervisors at Protexsa also described making the shirts in a factory there. One still works there. Another worked there for a year and a half before quitting in 2014 because, he said, he did not like how workers were treated. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because of fear of reprisal. BuzzFeed News spoke this month with more than a dozen current and former workers at that factory complex. Interviewed independently, they described harsh conditions including a dangerously hot factory floor where temperatures sometimes reached 105, verbally abusive supervisors, unsanitary cafeteria food, and an on-site doctor who some said did not acknowledge their work-related injuries. “You are enslaved by the production goals,” said one former worker who said she was fired without explanation in December. The woman, who did not want to be named for fear of retaliation by her former employer, said she worked there from around 2009 until December, making, she said, approximately $61 a week plus a bonus of $8 if she met production goals, which rarely happened. That came out to about $1.60 an hour, she said, and left her with a chronically sore right shoulder from hunching over a sewing machine. Protexsa declined to make anyone available for an interview or to give BuzzFeed News a tour of the factory. A guard at one entrance of the complex barred a reporter from entering. When asked what conditions were like inside, the guard said they were “cruel.” In a written statement, Protexsa spokesperson Xiomara Wu declined to address specific questions about working conditions but said the company aimed to “ensure a stable, responsible business model framed by civic and moral values.” PVH would not comment on conditions for workers in Protexsa’s Choloma factory complex. The company has “a robust audit process in place to identify human rights, employment law, health, safety and other related violations at our vendors’ factories,” spokeswoman Dana Perlman said in an emailed statement. She said PVH no longer makes or sells Trump-brand clothes, nor does it contract with Protexsa any longer. In 2013, the factory came under scrutiny for “serious violations” in a report by the DC-based labor rights monitoring organization Worker Rights Consortium. The report, which examined working conditions at factories producing clothing for the City of Los Angeles, cited mandatory work on Saturdays and verbally abusive supervisors, among other concerns. “You see a complex of abuses” at Protexsa, said Scott Nova, executive director of Worker Rights Consortium. Production of Trump-related clothing and other merchandise has been outsourced to countries with low wages and dismal workers’ rights’ records, such as Bangladesh, China, and Mexico. In Honduras, which has one of the highest murder rates in the world and where more than 62% of the population live under the poverty line, workers continue to labor in jobs with harsh conditions because there are few alternatives, many said. The Protexsa operation is located in a complex of about two dozen teal and beige–colored buildings inside a tax-free zone in this city on Honduras’ steamy east coast. At the edge of town, a sign declares: “Choloma, Manufacturing City.” Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Pizza Hut line the dusty main road; lush hills rise up in the background. The complex appears placid most of the day. At lunchtime, workers stream out and push up towards the chain link fence, handing vendors on the outside crumpled bills in exchange for bags of purified water and trays of homemade chicken and rice — many say the food at the cafeteria has made them ill. Small groups of employees search for shade in which to eat their meals quickly; every minute away from their stations brings them further away from their production bonus. Workers buy lunch across the wire fence. They prefer not to leave the factory grounds, so they can get back to work quickly and try to meet the strict production quotas. Karla Zabludovsky / BuzzFeed News Some workers claim conditions at the factory have affected their health, complaining of chronic pain and rashes. Some also said the factory doctor did not respond to their maladies. “We suffer from the moment we come in until the moment we leave,” said a woman who asked not to be named for fear of being fired from her job. At least one former employee reported strong pressure from management to avoid hiring workers who might try to organize a union at the factory. He said he often received handwritten lists from the Human Resources department with names of workers who were perceived as pro-union. When such workers took tests to apply for jobs, he would scuttle their chances by falsely inflating the time it took them to complete the test, he said. The employee refused to be identified because he feared being blacklisted from the industry. Employees viewed as pro-union were also punished in other ways by their supervisors, the man said. One tactic was increasing already-high quotas. Workers on the iron station, for example, would be required to press the wrinkles from more than 1,660 shirt collars in a nine-hour shift. Last year, Macy’s dropped Trump’s line shortly after he said in his campaign rollout that Mexicans entering the country are bringing drugs and crime: “They’re rapists. And some I assume are good people.” PVH stopped producing and selling Trump’s line, too, though the company’s spokesperson did not say why. The workers who labor in the factory are far removed from such details. Many said they don’t know who Trump is. They are focused on trying to feed their families. On a recent Friday afternoon, the supervisor with the white bun walked out of the Protexsa factory gulping orange juice from a plastic bag. Her team had fallen short of its production quota — again. No one would get the $8 bonus that, she said, meant the difference between between buying her grandchildren school supplies or forcing them to go without. “There is no future here,” the woman said. Trump what a piece of fuckin work he is. https://www.buzzfeed.com/karlazabludovsky/meet-the-workers-who-sewed-donald-trump-clothing-for-a-few-d?utm_term=.rb5Qm01erG#.yww5gy3mz9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleepr2 Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Are they anything like the people that put Burkes Bicycles together? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racer254 Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Would these people have a job without Donald Trump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Just playing by the rules set forth before him by Clinton and Obama. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecat Posted July 25, 2016 Author Share Posted July 25, 2016 1 hour ago, racer254 said: Would these people have a job without Donald Trump? Is it OK for Trump to lie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleepr2 Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 1 minute ago, Mainecat said: Is it OK for Trump to lie? Suddenly MC is concerned about lies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racer254 Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 8 minutes ago, Mainecat said: Is it OK for Trump to lie? No, I don't like liars, but where did he lie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momorider Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Another day another MaineCUNT the FAKE independent thread FAIL What a fucking pathetic hack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Mc mad at trump for following the law mc praises hillary for breaking the law. funny stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecat Posted July 25, 2016 Author Share Posted July 25, 2016 1 hour ago, racer254 said: No, I don't like liars, but where did he lie? https://youtu.be/SYoOPgeTMQc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momorider Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 11 minutes ago, Mainecat said: https://youtu.be/SYoOPgeTMQc Zero lies more MaineCUNT FAIL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikeadoo Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 1 hour ago, Mainecat said: From 2004 until last year, Trump contracted with apparel giant Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, or PVH. PVH, in turn, subcontracted some production to Protexsa, a garment manufacturing company owned by one of Honduras’ wealthiest families. So,,,you ASSume Trump directly knew where Van Heusen was making these shirts and the condition therein. Well, at least his Nike running shoes were made by well paid chinese laborers.....NOT. That's probably his fault too isn't it? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Member Kivalo Posted July 25, 2016 Gold Member Share Posted July 25, 2016 54 minutes ago, Mainecat said: Is it OK for Trump to lie? MC is here putting up the good fight. Where is your buddy, snowdummy? As usual he leaves you holding the bag while he tucks and runs for cover when the shit hit the fan. Anyone else notice the hack retard, slowdummy, leaves whenever shit gets bad for Hilary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racer254 Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 7 minutes ago, Kivalo said: MC is here putting up the good fight. Where is your buddy, snowdummy? As usual he leaves you holding the bag while he tucks and runs for cover when the shit hit the fan. Anyone else notice the hack retard, slowdummy, leaves whenever shit gets bad for Hilary? Maybe it is because slowdummy doesn't have an original thought in his head. Most parrots are like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcticCrusher Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 So does Trump own this factory or employ these workers? Think about it the next time you visit Walmart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catalina Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Sadly, the textile business is gone from the US. He, or anyone else couldn't get that stuff made here if he wanted to. Factories closed, machinery gone, along with the trained people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecat Posted July 25, 2016 Author Share Posted July 25, 2016 I see lots of excuses for Trump here ...the usual suspects. Trump is a used car salesman at best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleepr2 Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 14 minutes ago, Mainecat said: I see lots of excuses for Trump here ...the usual suspects. Trump is a used car salesman at best. And you've risen to the level of office sandwich guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt.Storm Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 21 minutes ago, Mainecat said: I see lots of excuses for Trump here ...the usual suspects. Trump is a used car salesman at best. I wonder if he would have balled out gm as barry did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecat Posted July 25, 2016 Author Share Posted July 25, 2016 1 hour ago, Capt.Storm said: I wonder if he would have balled out gm as barry did. He would be at the auction with Romney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 42 minutes ago, Mainecat said: I see lots of excuses for Trump here ...the usual suspects. Trump is a used car salesman at best. That makes you s homeless crack head by comparison? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Member BOHICA Posted July 25, 2016 Gold Member Share Posted July 25, 2016 So trump contracts out the making of his apparel to another company so trump is responsible for how that company treats its employees. you can thank our trade agreements for crappy work conditions that contractors exploit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GGNHL Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 MC bitching about where trump makes his shit while wearing vietnamese shoes, tiwainese clothing, while typing on a Chinese computer with a Chinese phone in his pocket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecat Posted July 25, 2016 Author Share Posted July 25, 2016 (edited) 1 hour ago, GGNHL said: MC bitching about where trump makes his shit while wearing vietnamese shoes, tiwainese clothing, while typing on a Chinese computer with a Chinese phone in his pocket. So that makes Trump OK? That quantifies it for you Trump supporter? I am wearing New Balance (USA), my loafers were made in Maine, the rest overseas. Make more here. Edited July 25, 2016 by Mainecat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GGNHL Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 1 minute ago, Mainecat said: So that makes Trump OK? That quantifies it for you Trump supporter? I am wearing New Balance (USA), my loafers were made in Maine, the rest overseas. Make more here. The guy licensed out his name, it's not him making it. Can't blame him for something like this. I'm still voting for Johnson and hope the first presidential debate stage collapses and kills the Cunt and trump. I agree we need to make more here, the TPP Hillary is all for isn't gonna help that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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