Excerpt from article:

Garment workers on Thursday celebrated a jury verdict that they say will put more than a half million dollars in the pockets of 25 workers and open the door for scores of others to be paid proper wages.

The jury in U.S. District Court in Manhattan returned the verdict late Wednesday against Liberty Apparel and two of its owners after a 10-year court battle.

A judge tossed the lawsuit out in 2002, but it was reinstated on appeal.

Fifteen workers at manufacturing facilities in Puerto Rico are suing Weldon Spring-based Propper International, the largest manufacturer of uniforms for the U.S. military, alleging labor law violations.

The workers are suing for damages of $225,000 related to unpaid work.

The case alleges that the company, which operates eight plants in Puerto Rico, did not grant legally required paid sick days and vacation days and that some vacation days were paid at the federal minimum wage rather than workers' regular wages...

Overseas workers supplying major chains say they are forced to lie to auditors about pay and conditions

British supermarket claims that their cut-price clothing is made under ethical standards have been called into question by an investigation revealing serious and widespread abuses in factories that make the bargain items.

Tailors and machine operators making cheap clothing for Tesco and Asda say they are forced to lie to company auditors about working hours and pay and conditions or risk being sacked, according to a report to be published on Tuesday... 

Since Valentine's Day is about declaring love, it can be an opportunity for teachers to talk about the larger love found in social justice and human rights. It all stems from flowers.

About one-third of Ecuador's and Colombia's flowers are produced for Valentine's Day alone, which means workers are pushed to meet production quotas, logging up to 20 hours a day, at 250-300 stems per hour for harvesters, according to the International Labor Rights Forum. Because flowers are not consumed, safety standards are lower than they are for food.