abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

11 Jun 2015

Author:
Rosa Moreno, Guardian (UK)

When I lost my hands making flatscreens I can't afford, nobody would help me

See all tags

On February 11, 2011, I lost both my hands. I was working an overnight shift at my job in Reynosa, Mexico, where I was cutting metal for parts used in assembling flatscreen televisions. I was working in my usual area, and the boss was pressuring us...Immediately, I started to worry about my children...How would I take care of them now?...After five days in the hospital...I went directly to the factory where I worked for HD Electronics. I asked to see the manager. He offered me 50,000 pesos ($3,800)... I eventually got about $14,400 in settlement money under Mexican labor law, an amount equal to 75% of two years’ wages for each hand. But I knew I had to do better for my family...I decided to tell my story on television... Even though I could not pay...[my lawyer] helped me file a lawsuit against LG Electronics, which contracted with the factory where I worked...Then the judge in my case threw out the lawsuit on a technicality, saying LG had not been properly notified...I know I am not the first person to be injured. But more needs to be done to help the workers who are making the products that so many Americans buy...

Timeline