What we can do
There are many things people in the United States can do to tackle the problem of sweatshops.
Boycott the sweatshops - We can first shift our spending patterns by purchasing products from responsible companies, not companies that operate sweatshops. The FTF (Fair Trade Federation) is an organization which informs consumers in the U.S. which companies produce their products using sweatshops. By informing the public of which products are made with sweatshop labor, the public can then choose to boycott (not purchase) products made through the use of sweatshops. By boycotting these products, companies are forced to change their practices or risk losing sales and profits. Boycotts have been used to force companies such as Reebok to change their practices and sell items that were only made from fair trade wholesalers. In the case of Reebok, a group of students at the University of Wisconsin came together and told the University they would stop buying school clothing sponsored by Reebok unless Reebok paid fair wages to the workers in the sweatshops and improved working conditions. The University talked to Reebok, and Reebok forced its foreign suppliers to improve the working conditions and increase wages for these workers. This shows that a group of people who want change have the power to do so. Impacting companies economically is perhaps the most powerful way to effect change to the practice of sweatshop labor.
Educating America - The problem of sweatshops can't be addressed until we are made aware of this problem. Corporations may unknowingly sell products that were made in overseas sweatshops. By bringing to their attention the sweatshops used to make their products, major corporations may act on their own to force better working conditions upon their foreign manufacturers. Similarly, by alerting consumers that certain products are made with sweatshop labor, people will want to help and demand change.
Promoting Legal Changes Abroad - Many people don't realize the United States has had its own history with sweatshops. Early in our history, automobile and clothing factories, for example, employed workers under oppressive conditions that some would view as sweatshops. Legal changes, however, vastly improved the working conditions of employees in these factories. Laws that guaranteed a minimum wage assured workers they could afford food and shelter. Laws that forced factory owners to improve the safety of their plants reduced workforce injuries and deaths. Laws that allowed workers to organize in unions and, if necessary, to strike gave power to the workers to demand improved and safe working conditions. Workers in sweatshops abroad don't have these legal protections. Through petitions, writing our government officials or working with overseas organizations, we can force legal changes in these overseas countries that will improve the rights and working conditions of the oppressed workers.
Fair Trade Federation - http://www.fairtradefederation.org. This website will tell you all about what fair trade is, and how you can help the workers in sweatshops.
Boycott the sweatshops - We can first shift our spending patterns by purchasing products from responsible companies, not companies that operate sweatshops. The FTF (Fair Trade Federation) is an organization which informs consumers in the U.S. which companies produce their products using sweatshops. By informing the public of which products are made with sweatshop labor, the public can then choose to boycott (not purchase) products made through the use of sweatshops. By boycotting these products, companies are forced to change their practices or risk losing sales and profits. Boycotts have been used to force companies such as Reebok to change their practices and sell items that were only made from fair trade wholesalers. In the case of Reebok, a group of students at the University of Wisconsin came together and told the University they would stop buying school clothing sponsored by Reebok unless Reebok paid fair wages to the workers in the sweatshops and improved working conditions. The University talked to Reebok, and Reebok forced its foreign suppliers to improve the working conditions and increase wages for these workers. This shows that a group of people who want change have the power to do so. Impacting companies economically is perhaps the most powerful way to effect change to the practice of sweatshop labor.
Educating America - The problem of sweatshops can't be addressed until we are made aware of this problem. Corporations may unknowingly sell products that were made in overseas sweatshops. By bringing to their attention the sweatshops used to make their products, major corporations may act on their own to force better working conditions upon their foreign manufacturers. Similarly, by alerting consumers that certain products are made with sweatshop labor, people will want to help and demand change.
Promoting Legal Changes Abroad - Many people don't realize the United States has had its own history with sweatshops. Early in our history, automobile and clothing factories, for example, employed workers under oppressive conditions that some would view as sweatshops. Legal changes, however, vastly improved the working conditions of employees in these factories. Laws that guaranteed a minimum wage assured workers they could afford food and shelter. Laws that forced factory owners to improve the safety of their plants reduced workforce injuries and deaths. Laws that allowed workers to organize in unions and, if necessary, to strike gave power to the workers to demand improved and safe working conditions. Workers in sweatshops abroad don't have these legal protections. Through petitions, writing our government officials or working with overseas organizations, we can force legal changes in these overseas countries that will improve the rights and working conditions of the oppressed workers.
Fair Trade Federation - http://www.fairtradefederation.org. This website will tell you all about what fair trade is, and how you can help the workers in sweatshops.
Reebok sweatshop protest
These are University of Wisconsin students at the State Capitol protesting the sweatshops used by Reebok. Students insisted they would only buy clothes with the Reebok logo if Reebok agreed to treat their sweatshop workers well and pay the employees fair wages. The students forced Reebok to change sweatshop conditions and wages.
Apple sweatshop protest
These are people protesting across from an Apple Store. Recently, Apple has been accused of using sweatshops to make their products. As a result, Apple forced its overseas suppliers to change their workforce practices.