Category Archives: Press
- 26-7-2002
Advocates for Immigrant Worker Rights
Groups defend otherwise voiceless newcomers against exploitation on the job. July 26, 2002|JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER | TIMES STAFF WRITER Roman Vargas’ hands were cracked and peeling from working as a dishwasher in a Koreatown restaurant. His bosses were often physically and emotionally abusive, he says, and he was paid $250 a week with no overtime Continue Reading
- 2-7-2002
A Thai-Style Piece of the American Pie
Community Shop lets immigrants accomplish together what they can’t individually: own their own business. July 02, 2002|MARIA ELENA FERNANDEZ | STAFF WRITER Talk of the future comes up a lot in this small, new Hollywood Boulevard storefront that is not part of the Hollywood business boom but offers a boost of a different kind. Here Continue Reading
- 25-10-2001
From Virtual Slavery to Being Boss Entrepreneurs
Couple once indentured in a garment sweatshop now run their own successful restaurant October 25, 2001|KAREN ROBINSON-JACOBS | TIMES STAFF WRITER Desperate to end four years of virtual slavery at a now-infamous garment factory in El Monte, Win Chuai Ngan climbed the perimeter wall, jumped down and hurried off into the darkness, uncertain where the Continue Reading
- 24-1-2000
Sweatshop Exhibit Revives Painful Memories
Human rights: Thai women freed in 1995 El Monte raid view show at Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum of Tolerance that depicts their brutal working quarters. January 24, 2000|EDWARD J. BOYER | TIMES STAFF WRITER It was a scandal as close as a bedroom closet–an outrage hovering there among familiar sportswear, dresses, jeans, hats and shirts. Continue Reading
- 28-10-1999
City Council Designates Area as ‘Thai Town’
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA / A news summary | The Local Review / DEVELOPMENTS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY October 28, 1999 HOLLYWOOD — The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to designate an area east of Hollywood as “Thai Town,” the first official Thai town in the nation. The designation was proposed by Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg, Continue Reading
- 29-3-1999
Thai Health Fair Provides Free Medical Screenings
VALLEY ROUNDUP | North Hollywood March 29, 1999|ANDREW BLANKSTEIN The crowds began forming at Wat Thai Temple hours before the start of the first Thai Health Fair Sunday. And before the event ended in late afternoon, nearly 1,000 people had turned out. As with many cultural events at Wat Thai, people were treated to a Continue Reading
- 23-11-1998
Best of Both Worlds
November 23, 1998|ROBERTO J. MANZANO | TIMES STAFF WRITER NORTH HOLLYWOOD — The name tag reads Iddhi, but that’s because Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Woody Iddhi’s real name is way too long to fit. Few attempt to pronounce Woravoth Iddhibhakdibongse. Yet his surname is a royal gift. Twelve years ago, Thailand’s king bestowed it Continue Reading
- 3-4-1998
Servitude a Fact of Life, Thais Say
Cultures: Alleged mistreatment of two immigrant women is unfortunate, but not an unusual fate for the ‘lower class,’ many contend. April 03, 1998|ERIC SLATER and CLAIRE VITUCCI and JULIE TAMAKI | TIMES STAFF WRITERS Early on the morning of Jan. 14, as the rest of the Woodland Hills household slept, the two Thai women hurried Continue Reading
- 2-4-1998
Envoy’s Companion Accused of Holding Immigrants in Slavery
Courts: Woman is charged with forcing two servants smuggled in from Thailand to work at her home and restaurant for 18 hours every day. Suspect vehemently denies the allegations. April 02, 1998|DAVID ROSENZWEIG and CLAIRE VITUCCI | TIMES STAFF WRITERS The female companion of a ranking Thai diplomat was accused in a federal indictment Wednesday Continue Reading
- 24-10-1997
Sweatshop Workers to Get $2 Million
Labor: Five firms settle with 150 Thai and Latino employees of notorious El Monte apparel facility and its sister plant in L.A. October 24, 1997|GEORGE WHITE and PATRICK McDONNELL | TIMES STAFF WRITERS Five major companies, including Mervyn’s and Montgomery Ward, have agreed to pay more than $2 million to 150 workers who labored under Continue Reading