1. Slavery in America A Thriving Industry

2. Slavery is everywhere: A 2004 UC Berkeley study says slavery is found primarily in 5 sectors: Prostitution and sex services -- 46% Domestic service -- 27% Agriculture -- 10% Sweatshops and factories -- 5% Restaurant and hotel work -- 4% The remainder comes from sexual exploitation of children, entertainment, and mail-order brides

3. Free the Slaves.net reports: An estimated 27 million people are enslaved globally -- more than at any other time in history Thousands are trafficked through 90 U.S. cities -- between 17,000 and 50,000 $90 is the average cost of a human slave around the world, compared to the 1850 equivalent of $40,000 in today’s dollars.

4. Farmworker Slavery Oxfam reports that: More than 2 million people live in sub-poverty: no benefits, no right to overtime, a living wage, or any job protection In Florida, it’s not uncommon for people to be chained to poles, locked in trucks, physically beaten, and cheated out of pay Law enforcement is weak and ineffective at both the state and federal levels, especially in Florida and North Carolina Farmworkers are the poorest and most abused laborers in the U.S. Half earn less than $7500 a year.

5. Farmworker Slavery, cont. Up to 300,000 laborers suffer pesticide poisoning each year, and others are at risk for other types of accidents. None are insured or guaranteed medical care. A N.C. study found only 4% had access to drinking water, hand-washing, and toilet facilities

6. Domestic Servitude in America Mostly women with temporary visas Come to U.S. to escape poverty and send money home to families Live-in domestic help for rich, diplomats, other high-ranking officials Often forced to work up to 19 hours a day, no freedom, no days off, no rights Cannot complain or leave because visas are work-based; if they leave employment, they will be deported

7. Sex slavery in America The largest form of forced labor in America because it’s tied to organized crime and very profitable Average entry age into prostitution is between 12-14 An estimated 100,00-300,000 children are at risk at any time, according to a congressional finding Recruited through internet, among shelter and street youths, including runaways

8. Sex slavery in America, cont. Estimated 2.8 million children live on city streets One third of them are lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home. Through psychological intimidation and physical abuse, pimps control about 75% of exploited minors, according to the Dept. of Justice.

9. Sweatshops and factories Union of Needle Trades and Industrial Textile Employees states that 75% of NY garment factories are sweatshops US Dept. of Labor says over 50% of all US- based garment factories are sweatshops Wages are sub-poverty, overtime pay is non- existent, and working conditions are poor to hazardous Some workers are forced to live in squalid conditions, and armed guards keep them there

10. Restaurant and Hotel Workers Almost all hotel housekeepers must clean at least 15 rooms per day To reach quota, they skip meals and brakes and have a 40% higher injury rate than other service workers Many workers are here on temporary visas; some are illegal aliens -- they have little to no rights

11. Source Lendman, Stephen. “Modern Slavery in America.” The Baltimore Chronicle. The Baltimore News Network (6 March 2009):n.pag.Web. 30 Jan. 2010 http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/20 09/030609Lendman.shtml. http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/20 09/030609Lendman.shtml