“Last week, the Los Angeles court hearing our case against Hyundai and Kia granted the companies’ motion to dismiss. While the decision is disappointing, our commitment to holding multi‑billion‑dollar corporations accountable to workers and communities has not changed. Hyundai and Kia cannot be allowed to profit in California from exploitation in their U.S. supply chain while our communities bear the cost. I am a lifelong Californian leading an organization with a national office in the state. Our team is determined to stand up for California values and commitments to work with high-road employers. We believe the court got it wrong, and we will be appealing this decision. Our fight for worker dignity, the public good, and truth continues.”
– Statement from Madeline Janis
Last week, the Los Angeles court hearing our case against Hyundai and Kia granted the companies’ motion to dismiss our complaint. We think the court got it wrong, and we intend to appeal.
We filed this lawsuit because we believe that every worker deserves safety and dignity and that no corporation should profit from the exploitation of their supply chain’s workforce.
California is a leader in this space. The State requires its contractors to certify that their products are not made with “sweatshop labor,” including child, forced, or prison labor, and that workplaces are safe and lawful.
Our case alleges that this is not the case with Hyundai-Kia.
Last year, Columbia Labor Lab released a report on prison labor in Hyundai-Kia’s supply chain that is now informing international advocacy around the company and supply chain accountability. Researchers at JMA released another report that documents incidents of child labor in the company’s supply chain.
Our lawsuit alleges that Hyundai and Kia, and its affiliates, are certifying that their cars are built in compliance with labor laws to win public contracts in California while companies in their U.S. supply chain engage in unlawful labor practices.
The court ruled that California law could not address the practices occurring in Alabama and Georgia. The court also determined that federal and state regulatory agencies are better suited to remedy the violations in the supply chain. The court’s decision was based on its interpretation of California law, not on the facts.
We are committed to ensuring that every company – no matter its size – is held accountable to the law and to the public money it receives.
We will continue to hold Hyundai/Kia accountable for the conditions in their U.S. supply chain.
Last week, JMA co-sponsored an action in L.A. to demand that FIFA end its corporate partnership with Hyundai and Kia for the World Cup until the companies address the issues in their supply chain.
And our Southern team organizers continue to build worker committees at the suppliers to demand accountability inside the plants.
The Court’s ruling is not the end of our fight for justice at Hyundai and Kia.
JMA will always stand up for workers and the public good. No company is above the law, especially those that receive public dollars.