American Apparel in Trouble Again - Cited for Using Illegal Workers

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts)
Posted Jul 1st 2009 at 1:42PM

American Apparel's immigration reform T-shirt. Photo: eBay

There's a reason American Apparel's clothing is often out of this world -- allegedly numerous employees who manufacture the clothing are working illegally in the United States.

WWD reports that as many as one-third of the workers at American Apparel's Los Angeles production facilities aren't authorized to work in this country. The U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency held an inspection of the facilities early this year, and just now released the results to the clothing company.

While, of course, this could all just be chalked up to some HR mistakes, American Apparel is far from being a stranger to controversy. Aside from its provocative ads, the company just settled a lawsuit with Woody Allen for using his image (below) without permission.

Woody Allen went after American Apparel for using his image. Just one example of the brand's controversial billboards. Photo: WENN

Additionally, CEO Dov Charney is well-known for being an outspoken advocate for immigration reform. According to WWD, he's used his brand to sell T-shirts supporting the cause and has even put up advertising billboards to publicize the need for change.

In fact, the brand's blog has video of thousands of American Apparel employees taking part in the annual Los Angeles May Day march, and, of course, of Charney speaking about immigration reform at the rally. He told the crowd, "It's not just about workers and immigrants; it's about humanity."

Naturally, the loss of a third of its employees could mean big changes for the brand. According to WWD, the company doesn't anticipate being affected too much because it still has plenty of inventory and the capacity to continue producing.

However, American Apparel acknowledged, "As the ultimate impact is difficult to predict at this time, no assurances can be given as to how, if at all, the loss of a significant number of manufacturing employees will affect [our] business."

At this time, WWD reports that neither the company nor any employees have been charged, and AA promises to "fully comply with its obligations to establish the employment eligibility of prospective employees under immigration law."

Employees will have an opportunity to present documentation that clears them to work in the U.S., otherwise, they'll no longer be able to work for the company.

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Filed under: News
Tags: american-apparel, dov-charney, government, illegal-aliens, immigration, immigration-reform

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READER COMMENTS

(148)Add A Comment

Matt, 7-02-2009, 7:00AM

Employers that hire illegal workers should be facing much greater fines and prison time if we are serious about fighting this problem of illegal workers. They create the attraction for workers to enter this country illegally. They encourage the breaking of our laws. Then they profit by paying low wages and no benefits.

Our congress (and because of them, our govenrment) is criminally neglegent.

If they don't begin to act responsibly soon, I am afraid the coming revolt wil dwarf the first american revolution.

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AmericanGirl, 7-02-2009, 10:47AM

Don't kid yourself - great numbers of illegal workers are paid the same wages and receive the same benefits as legal workers. They are union members and the unions, knowing full well that the members are illegal, take dues and provide "services" to these people as well as the legal members.

I worked for a company for a long time and when we would receive Social Security mismatch letters, the union reps would send us letters that stated it was illegal for us (the employer) to attempt to verify the social security number being used by the worker!

This group of workers brought in all their friends and family to apply for jobs. They literally took over the operations. Many times we would hire legal, African -American or other minorities and the other workers, both legal and illegal from this particular demographic would make it impossible for these fine folks to work there. The employees who were supposed to train the new workers would "forget" how to speak English and be such a**holes that the other minorities would just quit.

You might think, where was management? Ha-ha. Most were from the same group, hiring their own friends and family, too.

Even the GM was pushing HR to hire people he sent in. Once when the INS (ICE) served a subpoena for some of our employee records, and other employees expressed fear of whether they were "safe", this GM told the employee group that he would tell them if other subpoenas were received so they could flee.

That was the last straw. I called INS myself and told them everything that was going on. I was offered immunity by the US Attorney and was slated to "wear a wire" and attend a meeting with this manager. The INS was going to "make an example" of this guy and charge him with the crimes he had committed. This was very shortly after 9/11.

This GM, a poor example of an American, lucked out when the INS decided to instead pursue an "administrative option" when resources were being re-allocated to finding and interviewing middle eastern men who were here on visas. He doesn't even know how close he came to federal charges. Too bad, I would have loved to see his arrogant face when the jury put him away.

I ended up being fired for "poor performance", when in fact it was simply because I did not support his illegal and immoral business practices - or belong to his demographic. At the time, I had been there longer than any other employee, almost 20 years.

I would think that my story is not unique. So sad for our country.

Webster, 7-02-2009, 11:53AM

I agree with you. Like the Roman Empire the USA will go down. The American Citizen is just too scared and lazy to put an effort in the "illegal"issue It will become much worse in the next ten years. Americans have tolearn "Mexican language"!Spanish is different. They already have a law plan that all German kids learn turkish from the first grade on. .

Michele, 7-02-2009, 7:36AM

If you have ever stayed in a hotel most likely your housekeeper is illegal. The problem is they aren't taking jobs away from Americans. They are taking jobs from lazy uneducated Americans that think they are above such jobs. I was a room inspector for the Marriott and we couldn't keep the Americans they barely showed up for work and when they did they did a half assed job. I usually had to send the mexicans back to their rooms to redo what they didn't do. They never say no to a job or an extra shift. The uneducated Americans don't want to work for min. wage. They'd rather sit at home and collect welfare while their b/fs sell drugs and end up making more money than people who work.

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RANDY, 7-02-2009, 9:34AM

You are correct Michelle, most of the illegal mexicans are
harder workers than some of the lazy americans . In the hotel business, these are the people showing up for work and keeping the rooms and hotel clean. My daughters hotel had the same problems, the lazy americans kepy blowing off of work and just not showing up! Anyone that vacations in a hotel and complains about illegals, bite your tongue, they are the ones cleaning YOUR room and making YOUR vacation nicer!!!

allan, 7-02-2009, 10:12AM

Amen Michelle!!!
Too many don't grasp this as they shop Walmart etc!

WILLIAM, 7-02-2009, 11:50AM

sorry,americans,but this is true Michele you say, a reality that people do not want to understand

off, 7-02-2009, 7:12AM

in the preface of the book there is an interesting comment
he states that right after WWII the Russians sent people to recruit sleepers to raise up in case of war between the USA an USSR. and that there was no problem finding immigrants
these were people who came to this country legally
so my comment is what about those who break our laws and come here are they sleepers for some other country
send them back now if they have children who were born in this country let the kids stay or they can take em with them

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John Russo, 7-02-2009, 7:16AM

Companies love illegals. Illegals don't know their civil rights, they work without OT pay. The companies love affair with outsourcing labor they even outsource within the countries borders. Its greed that drives these companies to break the law. Simple math the company save 40 million by violating the OT regulations. When the company is caught they are fined 5 million. LOL The company still walks away with 35 million from the table. Then the whole process is started again.

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michctr, 7-08-2009, 3:41PM

WE WANT AMERICA BACK ,NO WE DO NOT WANT DEALS FOR ILLEGAL {FELONS] OUR BOUGHT OFF LEGISLATORS
WHO ARE THE CREAM OF THE CRUD NEED TO GO.
AND THE A$$HOLE DOV CHARNEY THE
GREAT CHAMPION OF THE UNDER DOG THAT WILL WORK FOR THIRD
WORLD WAGES NEEDS HIS ASS IN JAIL FOR BREAKING THE LAW...SEND THE ILLEGALS BACK...

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skip, 7-02-2009, 12:14PM

If the people in Washington really were serious about illegals, they would be GONE. They give us BS and lip service but what they want is the vote of the many that will keep them in power. Every Democrat vote just further endorces this. The liberals HAVE RUINED WHAT USED TO BE A GREAT COUNTRY. Poital correctness is only a veil not to offend a potential voter. When we are all starving and have to beg the government for a hand out we have no one to blame but ourselves. BEWARE of The " annointed" king OBAMA. He is a Socialist. He is soft on defense and kisses asses to America bashing dictators. Nancy Pelosi is an incompetent moron.

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Mia, 7-02-2009, 7:33AM

"No longer be able to work with the company"? How about deporting the effing illegal bastards? Because now that they're unemployed, they'll collect some sort of government subsidized support, such as food stamps or welfare. Ship 'em out, they shouldn't be our problem if they REFUSE to get documented!!

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Karen, 7-02-2009, 12:56PM

Do you even know what you're talking about? I am Mexican and have been living here for 7 years, and guess what? I am a lot smarter than what you think. Let me see...oh, I was Valedictorian of my class, and have a starting spot on the varsity lacrosse team. My dad is a lawyer and my mom is a socioligist. My parents DO pay their medical bills, we have NEVER used food stamps. My mom works for a non-profit organization that gives food stamps and welfare to white trash like you. You can't label all immigrants as "bastards" just because of what you watch on the news. Pay attention! It's not that immigrants REFUSE to get documented, if it were that easy, EVERYONE would be documented. I don't think you're stupid, just ignorant. A good, huge pile of information do a whole lot of good to your little head, and maybe, just maybe, you'll learn to think before you speak and not just talk out of wanting to say something.

Jan, 7-02-2009, 7:35AM

I'm glad I heard about American Apparel using illegals before I started school clothes shopping. The only way to stop the illegal alien problem is to take away the job magnet and the only way to do that is to use the E-Verify system. Obama is doing everything he can to pass another amnesty. It's time for every U.S. citizen to put their foot down and demand that our laws be enforced. We have citizens living in the streets because of job losses. Illegals are no longer doing jobs that Americans won't do, take a look at any construction site to see who the carpenters, painters, roofers etc. are. Go to www.Numbers USA.com and sign up for free. From that site you can send FREE faxes to all our politicians to demand that they stop wasting our tax dollars to pay for illegals and stop wasting our tax dollars to debate and promote the issue. ILLEGAL MEANS ILLEGAL!!!!!!!!!

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EnuffAlready, 7-02-2009, 7:37AM

I am tired of US citizens paying the freight for these illegal aliens. I want them out of MY country. They are breaking OUR backs with healthcare, etc. Americans should have jobs and be willing to work at whatever they can get until bettering themselves. Get out of the USA!!!!!

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Justin, 7-02-2009, 7:46AM

You can bet that any company that gets busted for using illegals by this "look the other way" administration either (1) didn't donate money to the Obama campaign, or (2) is simply the victim of a token charge to make the public think that Janet Nobrainsatallo, Homeland Security and the INS are really on the ball with immigration enforcement. What you WON"T see on AOL is a report on how the U.S. government is harrassing and investigating Sheriff Joe Arpaio, of Maricopa County for actually having the nerve to enforce immigration laws. DON'T BE MISLEAD BY THESE TOKEN CITINGS. THE FENCE STILL ISN'T FINISHED AND THE DEMS ARE GOING TO TRY TO RAM THRU AN AMNESTY BILL THIS YEAR.

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fERN, 7-02-2009, 7:47AM

Everyone has taken the time to post their feelings on this board,now take the time to write your your senator and congressman. I totally agree . Send them all home if they are here illegally,if not we will all be sorry we didn't speak up.

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Delma Wilson, 7-02-2009, 7:54AM

I live in Polk county FL. If we used E VERIFY our unemployement numbers would go down from double digit. There are plenty of jobs but American and can't get a job because of the iligeals. But it's the employers that must be outed and fined.

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katz, 7-02-2009, 7:56AM

Why fine the employer for hiring anyone that applies for a job? Our government keeps turning a blind eye to illegal immigration so why shouldn't employer hire them?

Every time there is a pass given, green cards passed out to solve the mass illegal problems the government waves a red flag for anyone that wants to enter and bleed our systems dry to come on over,

Most of them do not marry, that way the system will pay for them to have anchor children, then we will support them while they raise those children, next those children will go to college at our expense, while our children can not afford to go.

The difference in early immigration was that the people wanted to be Americans, to learn the language, to blend in. Current immigrants do not want to blend in, to learn the language, they just want the benefits and the chance to sit around and condemn Americans for being selfish slobs.

I am wondering what makes an elected offrical any smarter than you or I, or even that illegal. The illegal is the smartest, he is here, can have children, without being responsible for there support, and has the use of our legal system in order to continue here. If he commits a crime. then jump back across the border, come back over another crossing and start over.

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tom price, 7-02-2009, 8:05AM

again. the polls indicate that most americans want illegals
out of this country. unfortunately, i have bad news for you
and i. obama, our first negro president WILL give them
amnesty. watch and see. and, this will be the first decline
in his popularity. along with the left wing democratic
leaders in dc.and following that, homosexual marriages will
be next. so like the one commentor said and i quote " TAKE SOME OF YOUR SPARE TIME AND WRITE OR EMAIL YOU REPS IN DC AND TELL THEM YOU WANT THE ILLEGALS OUT, OR THEY WILL BE OUT NEXT ELECTION. america
better get involved in more than commenting on computers
and then, and only then will your voice be heard and maybe
some action taken..otherwise live with what them scum bastards cram down your throat.........

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