The bosses held a "quality control" meeting in September to complain that they were losing orders and placed the blame on the workers for producing "bad" shirts. The owner of the company made a presentation, with translation into Spanish organized by management. He warned that if the quality did not improve to his satisfaction within six months, he would come back and decree a cut in workers, medical benefits. Not surprisingly, in this intimidating atmosphere in a room lined by bosses, none of the workers spoke.

The next day a letter--in English only--was enclosed with workers, paychecks, declaring that the 20-cent raise due September 1 would not be a raise this year but rather a lump sum bonus to be paid the week before Christmas, based on the number of hours worked and number of pieces made.

Many of the workers expressed outrage, especially at the delay in the raise. The fact that the letter was only in English added insult to injury.

In the following days some workers, especially in the pressing department, discussed "not working." One floor worker pointed to the central role of the sewing machine operators and said, "If the operators walk, then I will too."

The company held another meeting a few days later and asserted that they "lost a quarter of a million dollars the last two months." They floated the idea that they would close the plant in December if the quality of the shirts did not improve.

As anger mounted, many of the workers, most of whom are paid by piece-rate, turned to their union for answers, and a union meeting was held in response to the company's actions. Workers remain determined to press for a satisfactory solution.

Nancy Rosenstock is a member of UNITE Local 506.