SAN LUCAS WORKERS CENTER
2914 W. North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647

For Immediate Release
February 19, 2007
Contact: Ari Glazer (773) 573-6633 (cell)
or (773) 370-6633 (cell)
E-mail: sanlucasworkers (at) yahoo.com

CHICAGO-BASED H2O+ FIRES DAY LABOR WORKERS WHO SEEK A BETTER LIFE

CHICAGO -- The San Lucas Workers Center, day laborers, and community allies will protest H2O+, a Chicago-based, high-profile beauty products company on Wednesday, February 21 to denounce illegal firings and mistreatment of day laborers. Workers have been asking the company for a raise in pay and paid holidays, after years of working as "permatemps" for the company. Workers asked the company to switch them from an abusive day labor agency to an agency that complies with a Community Code of Conduct that will grant them better pay and work conditions. After the company initially agreed to end its inhumane labor practices,
H2O+ reneged on that promise and fired several
long-time day labor workers.

"We want H2O+ to stop the illegal firings and
retaliation against us. We want to have a better life for our families. We work hard for H2O+ and deserve a raise and better economic conditions," states Maria Rivera, a recently fired H2O+ day labor worker who worked there for 4 years in production.

Protesters will depart at 6:30pm from the San Lucas Worker Center, 2914 W. North Avenue. The group will begin a short march on the corner of Division and State at 7:00pm. Media is welcome to film bus loading and to ride along or meet protesters at the demonstration site (meet at Chipotle Grill, SW corner, Division and State). Workers will be available for comment at the protest.

"H2O+ must take responsibility for their day labor
workers. H2O+ makes millions of dollars off the hard work and sweat of day laborers," states Randy Smith, President of San Lucas Workers Center, "After many years of working at H2O+, workers want a little more than minimum wage with some benefits to provide for their families."

Abusive supervisors, harassment, retaliation for
organizing and complaining, discrimination, nonpayment of overtime, and the inability to move from temporary to permanent positions are some of the challenges these workers face daily. "I applied for a permanent position after working there for 2 years, yet a new person with only 4 months experience was given the job and I was fired," said Maria Gonzalez, "H2O+ doesn't
want us to speak up for our rights."

Since December, the threats and intimidation have
escalated, more than half of the long-time day labor workers have been fired, and others are training their replacements until they lose their jobs this Friday. "H2O's products are supposed to be clean and pure, but its labor practices are dirty!" states Irene Chavez, leader at San Lucas Workers Center.

The San Lucas Worker Center is the first worker-run organization demanding that Chicago companies only use day labor agencies that comply with a Code of Conduct. San Lucas Workers Center fights sweatshop abuses by Chicago day labor agencies and their client companies. We are a bilingual, multi-racial Committee of immigrant and U.S.-born workers, directly affected by the issues, who are organizing to end sweatshop abuses
by Chicago day labor agencies; win regular,
family-supporting work; and generate self-determination for day laborers through worker-led collective action.