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Raided Sweatshop Full of NYPD Uniforms!
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 30, 2009
Modified Apr 30, 2009
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By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 30, 2009
Modified Apr 30, 2009
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State Labor Department investigators who raided a clothing manufacturer in the garment district Tuesday night say sweatshop workers had been toiling to make dress uniforms for the NYPD. According to NY1, the department doesn't have a contract with the raided company, Forest Uniform Corp., but had been recommending officers privately buy their uniforms from them. Labor Department Commissioner Patricia Smith told reporters yesterday that the company has been cheating its 16 employees out of nearly $500,000 in overtime pay: "While the fake timecards show employees working 35 or 40 hours in a given workweek, the real ones told a much different story. Employees were found to be working 70 to 80 hours a week, sometimes without a day of rest." Investigators also accused a contractor that works with Forest Uniform of violating labor laws. In a statement released yesterday, a combative Smith said other sweatshop owners should take notice: "For too long, this employer and its contractor have flagrantly thumbed their noses at our investigators. Enough is enough. Our patience in this matter is over. Either pay your workers and get in compliance, or we’ll confiscate or tag every last shirt, jacket and sock you produce."
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cops
nyc
nypd
sweatshop
uniforms
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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