The California Labor Commission agreed to pay the workers nearly $1 million. The festivities were hosted by the Chinese Progressive Association who helped organize the workers fight.

"Yes, I feel we have justice because workers fought for this," said Li Qin Zhou, a worker at Wins.

Workers organized repeated protests in front of the factories, before the state Labor Commission, and when Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao was scheduled to be in town.

The garment workers received no pay from April through August 2001. Anna Wong, owner of three Wins factories, told Labor Department investigators she used the "slow pay" system, delaying payments to the workers for weeks supposedly in order to improve the company cash flow. Workers were given pay stubs without checks attached. When workers protested, bosses told them they would receive nothing if they spoke out.

"I never thought people would come together like this," said Li. "At the beginning only five or six people tried to do something. Others told us we would get nowhere. Then more and more people did something." Li received a check for $4,680 in back pay.

"We have to continue fighting and getting together," Li commented. "I know a lot of people who face unfair situations." She explained that other garment workers have approached her about problems they face at the factories where they work. "I tell them they have to get together and fight. You have to fight."

The celebration was addressed by representatives of the Chinese Progressive Association, the group Sweatshop Watch, and the Labor Commission, as well as Rollande Girard, a garment worker, representing the Socialist Workers campaign.  
 
 
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