Maquila Justice

Working conditions in Guatemala's factories are difficult at best. In these "maquilas," even the most basic workers' rights, such as the ability to take bathroom breaks or arrive late to work to breastfeed babies, are often out of reach.

The formation of the only two unions in Guatemala's garment industry in 2001 marked an important step toward improving labor conditions and empowering workers. Now the unions' very existence and the livelihood of its members are in question, as factory owners fight unionization through factory closure, blacklisting, intimidation and more.

Maquila Justice's mission is to help the unionized workers of Guatemala fight for improved working conditions - through advocacy, civil action and education. Together we can end the injustice of the maquilas.
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The women gather in the factory during a time when they feared they would be locked out of the factory and not allowed to return to work. This, along with selective closures of factories is a common way of busting unions or removing workers who have gained too much power at a particular factories. Factory owners have been known to pick up and move all their equipment to a new location overnight, leaving workers unexpectedly jobless and unpaid. Fearing that they too would be affected by this kind of a strategy, the women of Sitracima stayed in the factory around the clock for several weeks.

The Workers The Factory The Country The Struggle