INTERNATIONAL NON-PROFIT PEACE ORGANIZATION EXPOSED
AS WHITE COLLAR SWEATSHOP
Young Woman Worker Protests Retaliation and Firing

On Tuesday, October 1st, 2002, a young woman worker protested abusive sweatshop conditions she endured while working at world renowned non-profit organization, World Conference on Religion and Peace. Ms. Nancy Eng was joined by other white-collar office workers, immigrant garment workers, and injured workers, in recognition that the same sweatshop abuses they faced as seamstresses, home attendants, domestic workers, mothers, and other low-wage industries are similar to the conditions and lack of control that Ms. Eng and other young, white-collar workers are experiencing in offices all over New York City.

Like many low-income factory workers in garment sweatshops, Ms. Eng was denied the right to eat and take time for meals and forced to work long hours-at times even required to be on call for 24 hours. When Ms. Eng tried to talk to management about these conditions, she was unjustly retaliated against and fired. While WCRP claims to be committed to bringing about peace and to end world conflict, the way they treat their workers-especially young women workers-is contrary to the organization's so-called beliefs.

National Mobilization Against SweatShops (NMASS) urged WCRP to immediately resolve this situation, yet WCRP failed to take any responsibility for its actions. The workers spoke out about how the exploitative conditions have spread from factories to "white-collar sweatshops," including non-profit organizations, demanded that WCRP reinstate Ms. Eng to her position and recognize the right of workers to organize to improve conditions of the workplace. The picket and press conference took place in front of the WCRP international headquarters, located just a stones throw away from the United Nations.