Pick your target:
Almost all clothing lines use sweatshop labor. The best idea is to work on one that is already of campaigns around the country, like Nike, Wal-Mart, or Disney.
Do a little research:
Get details: Where are the company's sweatshops located? What are the conditions and wages like? A good source for facts on this is the National Labor Committee (NLC). Write them, at 275 Seventh Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10001; email nlc@nlcnet.org; web page www.nlc.org. Also contact the National YCL office.
Write a leaflet:
Using your best information create a short, easy to read leaflet. Describe the situation in the factories. Include a picture or drawing on the leaflet.
Plan an action:
The easiest action is leafleting outside one of the stores that uses sweatshop labor. All you have to do is:
* Get together a group of at least 3-4 people.
* Pick your store, date, and time of the action.
* Make sure you plan your actions for times and places with the biggest crowds.
* Leaflet consistently at the same store, for example, leaflet the same Wal-Mart store the first Saturday of every month.
* Make enough copies of your leaflet to hand out.
During the action:
Get out in front of the store, and as you hand out leaflets, ask customers and passersby if they would like some more information on how Company X uses sweatshop labor.
Have something for passersby to do:
1. Include the name and address of the company's CEO on your flyer and ask them to write to the CEO to say they disapprove of sweatshop labor.
2. Make a petition demanding that he company stop using sweatshop labor; ask people to sign it.
3. Invite any passerby who seems interested to join your campaign; have a sign-up sheet ready.
Do something interesting to catch people's eye:
1. Human billboard--Make a few big signs or banners and let a few people hold them up near where you are leafleting.
2. Chalking--Get a bunch of Sidewalk Chalk. Have fun creating designs and chalking anti-sweatshop designs on the sidewalk.
3. Stage a sweatshop theater--Dress up in costume (Disney characters for Disney demonstrations) or make up a short play or skit about sweatshop labor and perform it.
A few things to remember:
Our only target in the anti-sweatshop campaigns are the corporations that use sweatshop labor.
We are not in struggle against the shoppers. Do not scream at or embaras people entering the stores. People are not wrong or "bad" for buying shoes and clothing. They do, however, have the right to know where and under what conditions their clothing is made. Our goal is to let them know about the use of sweatshop labor and ask them to get involved by signing a petition, writing a letter or even joining the struggle to end sweatshop labor.
We are not calling for a boycott. Companies, when faces with boycotts over factory conditions in a certain country, respond by closing factories in that country and moving to another low-wage area. Nothing is changed and workers are left with even less than they had. All workers need jobs, but they must be jobs with dignity and respect. Our goal is to demand that these workers be given the right to organize independent unions in order to improve their pay and working conditions. As it stands now, corporations can search the world for workers who will work for the lowest wages. By raising standards for workers in other countries, workers in the U.S. will no longer be in competition with workers around the world to see who will work for the lowest pay with the worst working conditions.
After the action:
1. Have a group discussion about how the leafleting went. What went well? What could be done differently?
2. set a date for the next action and/or for a meeting to plan the action.
3. Send copies of the petitions you've collected to the CEO of the company.
4. Make folow up phone calls to people interested in working on the campaign. Invite them to come to the next event.
5. Write a short story or new item about your action for Dynamic.
This is just an outline to get you started. If you have doubts or questions, feel free to call the YCL National Office (212-741-2016).
|
Top level
Dynamic Magazine
