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Salvadoran Women Workers Speak Out on Sewing Peyton Manning Jerseys
February 4, 2010 | Share
February 4, 2009
Women workers of the Chi Fung factory in El Salvador immediately recognized the Peyton Manning jerseys, which were purchased for $80 at Dick's Sporting Goods stores in Indiana. The jerseys were sewn on Lines 1 and 2, in two colors, blue and white, and in all different sizes: M, L, XL, XXL.
The women said they were always under a lot of pressure, racing to meet production goals, while management demanded 100% quality. The sewing operations were difficult, especially because the fabric was "delicate" and repairs could not be made.
"When we were making these jerseys," the women told us, "we didn't even have time to go to the bathroom, nor to drink water. Sometimes we didn't even leave for our breaks so as not to lose time and fall behind in the work. The factory is very hot, despite the fans. By afternoon we are exhausted and tired."
"We knew the shirts were expensive. But now we realize the real price is $80, it makes us angry, because it isn't fair that they pay us such a low wage. The people [who buy these jerseys] don't imagine everything we have to bear in the factory when we sew these shirts. With just one $80 shirt, they pay our wages for two weeks. It could be said that with the cost of a single shirt, I have to maintain my family for two weeks. The supervisors are right when they say to us that our wage is not enough to pay for a jersey if we make a mistake."
