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Taking Back the Economy - Part 14
This Holiday Season, Remember the Workers
Inhumane and unconscionable conditions are allowed to
flourish in
globalization’s sweatshops. How we can allow this to happen?
 | In India this
past October, kids as young as 10 were found making clothing for
GapKids to be sold during the holiday season. Hungry and tired, the
children were reportedly beaten if they cried during the 16-hour
days. For their efforts, many were not even paid.
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conditions under which many Barbie and other Mattel toys are made
should startle holiday shoppers. This fall, more than 5,000 Chinese
workers were found putting in standard 14 ½ hour days making
products for the world’s largest toy manufacturer. Mandatory
overtime at the plant even exceeds China’s legal limit by 260
percent. In 2006, workers practically lived at the facility,
working 105 hours a week.
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| When Alcoa
decided to move operations from Mexico to Honduras, they told the
Mexican workers, “we can hire two or three Hondurans for every
Mexican.” Today, the Hondurans toil in abusive conditions – and, as
Alcoa promised – are paid below-subsidence wages for the auto parts
they make. When the workers stood up and formed a union earlier
this year, Alcoa swiftly moved to fire nearly 90 percent of the
union’s founding members.
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| Crucifixes
and sweatshops should never go hand in hand, however recent news
from China shows just that. Young women, many just 15 to 16 years
old, routinely work from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 or 11:30 p.m. seven days
a week making the crucifixes bound for U.S. church gift shops and
other stores. Even longer shifts (such as the 25-hour shifts to
meet production deadlines) aren’t uncommon. Workers receive just
half of China’s legal minimum wage for their work, and are required
to live in filthy and crowded company housing.
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Olympics should be a time for recognizing worldwide achievement.
But, the goods many athletes will wear at the next games represent
the opposite. Speedo gear is made by Chinese workers that
oftentimes go for months without a day off. These workers are also
held to grueling production mandates where workers fear they will be
maimed by equipment if they slow down for even a moment. As one
worker reported, “What lies in front of us is a blanket of
darkness. We have no hope.” |
For more information on these stories,
visit the Rapid Response website.
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UNITED
STEELWORKERS