Thu, Jun 28 from 3pm – 8pm
The Museum of Chinese in America
215 Centre Street New York, NY 10013
In 1982, tens of thousands of workers, mostly immigrant women, worked in union garment factories in and around Canal Street in Chinatown. In the summer of 1982, with union contract negotiations blocked by a small group of Chinatown employers, 20, 000 workers flooded the streets to demand a fair contract.
Following the historic strike, Chinese immigrant workers became new leaders and activists in the union. They gained a new voice at work and in the community. The 1982 strike transformed the image of Chinese immigrant women workers and wrote a new page of community and labor history. Come hear about this historic strike from the union activists who made it happen.
Featuring film excerpt from “Digital Quilt,” by Nancy Tong, Documentary film professor and filmmaker
3:00 – 5:00PM Panel Discussion in Cantonese Chinese
Betty Leung, Local 23-25 Chinese Communications Director (retired)
Shui Mak Ka, Local 23-25 Executive Board (retired)
Wing Fong Chin, Local 23-25 Executive Board Chairperson (retired)
Katie Quan, Associate Chair. UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Eduation
Po Ling Ng, Executive Director, Project Open Door
5:00 – 6:00PM RECEPTION
6:00-8:00PM Panel Discussion in English
June Jee, MOCA Trustee and daughter of Local 23-25 retiree
Katie Quan, Associate Chair, UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education
Wing Fong Chin, 1982 strike organizer, former Chair of ILGWU Local 23-25
Ed Vargas, Workers United/SEIU (formerly ILGWU), National Political Director (retired)
Rose Imperato, Coordinator, Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition
Admission: This program is free and open to the public, courtesy of TARGET. RSVP required to programs@mocanyc.org