Focus on fashion industry
Saturday, June 29, will be an international day of action, aimed at pressuring The Gap and Wal-Mart to sign the Bangladesh Fire and Safety Building Accord. “That’s a legally binding agreement that includes meaningful requirements to improve building safety in Bangladesh,” explained Niccoli. “Many groups have signed on, including H&M and Carrefoure, multinational companies based outside the U.S. The U.S.-based stores have been slow to sign on.” The Gap is a major focus because it has a corporate responsibility website and values its image as a corporate citizen.
Among Saturday’s planned activities are marches in New York City and Albany and delivery of letters to The Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy. A national organization called United Students Against Sweatshops may set up some creative actions such as a mock trial of a company’s CEO. The group has chapters in many New York State college towns, including Ithaca, Syracuse, and Buffalo, as well as Manhattan.
“Young people are focused on in a precise way by the fashion industry,” pointed out Bryan. “A lot of fashion would go away without the young person’s market. It’s important for people this age to take the issue on.”
Tom Multari, 16, recalled receiving an assignment in Bryan’s English class to write a persuasive essay. “The topic I chose was the effects of American consumerism. I learned so much about how many workers are denied basic rights. Their salaries are minimal. One-eighth of Nike’s advertising budget would be enough money to clothe and house workers in other countries.”
“Most young people really want to have an opportunity to be involved in something bigger than they are,” commented Bryan. “In order to be gratifying, they said to me, they have to have the chance to have a direct effect. They are skeptical of the Cancer Society and organized charities, which are just corporations — so little of the money raised goes to the people who need it. The kids want to be teachers and leaders for other people who want to be helpful but don’t know how to be. They are so marginalized themselves, even though they’re dragged into the consumer culture — they connect in a profound way to those who are being treated unfairly.”
The World of Difference Club has established a fund to support Bangladeshi workers. Abedin, who broke an arm and a leg in her leap from the burning factory, was given $1200 by the Bangladeshi government, but she needs more surgery and is unable to work. Intimidation by factory owners is common in Bangladesh, said Bryan. Workers at the building that collapsed were threatened with the loss of a month’s pay if they refused to go to work when cracks first appeared in the factory walls. A thousand people were killed in the collapse.
“We’re putting resources in their hands,” said Bryan, “so if they do want to organize, if they get fired, they have money to live on.” With their direct connection to Akter and Abedin, the students are confident the money they raise will go directly to those who need it.
One strategy for helping the Bangladeshis is to encourage American unions to stand up for the workers. Bryan approached Randy Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, who has pledged the national union’s support. Students are working with the New York State Union of Teachers (NYSUT) on a back-to-school campaign to raise money and publicize their concerns. NYSUT has already given $1000 to the fundraising effort and sent their secretary-treasurer, Lee Cutler, to the school to speak to the World of Difference Club.
“He told them, ‘You’re going to be teachers,” said Bryan. “My kids are determined.”
To donate to the fund for Bangladeshi workers, make out a check to “World of Difference Club” and send it to Donna Bryan, Coxsackie-Athens High School, 24 Sunset Blvd, Coxsackie NY 12051. Bryan can be reached at [email protected]. For information on anti-sweatshop actions scheduled for Saturday, June 29, see the Facebook page “Labor Religion Coalition of New York State.” More information is available at https://www.labor-religion.org.
