City of Chester Rises for Workers
- CUBNSC
- May 2
- 5 min read
Updated: May 3
Historic Victory: Chester Becomes First City in South Carolina to Pass Workers’ Rights Resolution on Workers Memorial Day
By Javar Juarez | CUBN
Chester, SC — On a day dedicated to honoring those who lost their lives on the job, the City of Chester made history. In a unanimous vote on Workers Memorial Day, the Chester City Council passed a landmark Workers’ Rights Resolution, becoming the first city in South Carolina to formally and publicly stand in defense of workers’ dignity, safety, and voice.
This is more than just symbolism — it’s a seismic shift in how small Southern cities can lead in worker advocacy. Fueled by the relentless organizing efforts of local residents, the Chester Worker Empowerment Center, and The New Progressive South, the resolution marks a new chapter for Chester — one where labor is respected, protected, and valued.
Over recent months, trained community organizers conducted deep canvassing across Chester, knocking on doors, visiting churches, and engaging residents block by block. Their message was simple yet powerful: every worker deserves dignity, fair pay, a safe environment, and a voice. City of Chester City Council Voted Unanimously to adopt the resolution.
The resolution, born directly from the voices of Chester’s working-class community, outlines a set of core commitments:
Dignity and respect for all labor
Fair wages and equitable hiring
Freedom from workplace discrimination and harassment
The right to organize without retaliation
Local economic policies that prioritize residents and sustainable jobs
Accountability for employers who violate workers’ rights
Giti Tire: Billions in Revenue, But At What Cost?
Giti Tire has long touted its $560 million investment in Chester County as an economic boon. With a nearly 1,500-acre site and claims of generating over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs, the company paints a glossy picture of its impact. But on the ground, workers and advocates tell a much different story — one marred by abuse, broken promises, and corporate exploitation.
According to a 2021 open letter signed by churches, civic groups, unions, and local councils, workers at Giti reported mandatory overtime, retaliation for time-off requests, unpredictable scheduling, and poverty wages. Their efforts to unionize were met with intimidation and threats of plant closure. The company even refused to accept a letter delivered by labor and religious leaders — literally turning them away at the gates.
A 2022 report by Dr. Lafarah Frazier of Clinton College, based on testimony from former and current Giti employees, revealed even more disturbing trends — including unsafe work practices, racial and gender-based occupational segregation, and a lack of basic human decency in the treatment of workers.
The economic disparities are striking: while Chester County’s GDP was just over $1.2 billion in 2023, Giti Tire’s global revenue neared $3 billion. Yet, Chester County workers earn a quarter less than the average South Carolinian, and the poverty rate remains disproportionately high. In essence, the community subsidized Giti’s profits with more than $60 million in tax breaks, while local schools lost nearly $62 million in funding due to corporate abatements.
When the Pandemic Hit, So Did the Truth
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the company’s priorities. In April 2020, Giti Tire laid off 636 workers — many permanently. Despite receiving nearly $10 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program loans, the company failed to bring back much of its workforce. One maintenance worker, Ray Durmon, said he was never called back and was forced to liquidate his assets and relocate to Nebraska just to survive.
A Resolution Grounded in Justice, Not PR
Unlike the polished press releases from corporate boardrooms, Chester’s Workers’ Rights Resolution wasn’t written for headlines — it was written by the people. It sends a clear message: the days of unchecked corporate power in Chester are over. The city has declared that workers’ rights are human rights, and that economic development cannot come at the cost of human dignity.
“This resolution was not crafted in a boardroom; it was shaped by the voices of the people,” “It shows what happens when working-class communities organize, lift their voices, and demand a government that truly represents them.” - Brandon Upson
Balancing Growth with Equity: Chester’s Path Forward
City of Chester residents should be proud — their leaders acted boldly to protect the city’s future. But even with this monumental resolution, fundamental questions remain. How do you grow a beautiful, historic city like Chester when wages remain low and poverty remains high? Chester may have received accolades for its charm, but charm doesn’t pay the rent. In communities where large corporations receive massive subsidies while workers earn significantly less than state averages, the economic scales are tipped against the very people who sustain the city.
Small businesses — the backbone of any thriving local economy — cannot survive without strong consumer buying power. And that power is rooted in fair wages. Without good jobs, the promise of revitalization becomes a mirage, and economic development becomes a one-way street leading to corporate gain and community stagnation.
Who Really Benefits from “Growth”?
It is time to rethink who truly benefits from Chester’s economic development. If multinational corporations like Giti Tire can pull in billions globally while failing to meet local hiring goals — all while extracting millions in public resources with little accountability — then something is deeply broken.
Chester’s resolution is more than a statement. It is a call to rebalance power — to ensure that the local economy works for the people who live and labor here, not just those who exploit it. As the community rallies around this new framework for worker dignity and economic fairness, Chester now has the opportunity to lead not only the state — but the South — in proving that shared prosperity is not only possible, it’s necessary.
What’s Next?
Chester has shown the rest of South Carolina — and the South at large — what is possible when community organizing meets political courage. While corporations like Giti Tire continue to operate with impunity, the people of Chester are building a new economic framework — one rooted in accountability, equity, and justice.
As the city celebrates this unprecedented win on Workers Memorial Day, it also sets a precedent. Chester has become the first city in South Carolina to stand firmly with labor. But if the people have their way, it certainly won’t be the last.
Clinton College & Catawba Area Workers’ Rights Board. Worker Rights Report on Giti Tire, 2022.
Jobs With Justice. Community Leaders Urge Chester County to Protect Giti Workers. www.jwj.org
United Steelworkers (USW). Workers Rights Board Report, District 9 Press Release, 2022.
Facing South. South Carolina Tire Workers Expose Corporate Subsidy, Human Rights Abuses, 2022.
U.S. Department of Labor. Worker Rights and Protections. www.dol.gov
Giti Tire USA. Company Overview and Investor Reports, 2023.
South Carolina Education Association & Community Testimony, Public Letter to Giti CEO, 2021.
This is long past due for Chester. We live in an evil county that is run by folks that do not care about Black folks. the white folks in chester relish in the disenfranchisement of Black people and poor whites. They have even convinced the poor white folks that Black people are the reason for the issues in Chester meanwhile Chester County did a horrible job ensuring that more of our citizens knew about the last election. They don't care about the city, they want to promote their anti-Black agenda in the name of corporate greed and getting their palms greased then caring for the people of Chester. That is disgusting. We see how Republicans have ran this state into…
Proud of my city!
Glad to something positive!
Unanimous vote? On Workers Memorial Day? That’s powerful. Every city in South Carolina should follow Chester’s lead. Workers deserve dignity, safety, and a voice! Bring that to North Charleston next!
This is what leadership looks like! Thank you to the Chester City Council and the incredible community organizers who made this happen. Proud to see Chester leading the way for working families!