In my classmate's blog, Burn the Burnt Orange, she writes about the protest and arrest of 18 University of Texas students. These students were peacefully protesting against U.T. because they sell, in their stores, clothing that has been made in sweatshops. I agree with her that the students who were arrested had to be because of the rules passed by the University. And I also understand her disappointment with U.T. and their "ties" to sweatshops. She states at the end of her article that she will no longer wear her U.T. shirts and dresses as her way of protesting against them and sweatshops in general. Although I respect her decision to do so I wondered, as I read through her blog, if she knows all the other brands or products which are also produced in sweatshops which she and other U.T. students might not be aware of. If they were, are they willing to give these products up as well.
Earlier this year it came to the public's attention that Apple produced many, if not most, of their products in sweatshops in China. People love their iPhones and iPads. People also love that they are affordable. The reason behind Apple's low prices is due to the labor practices that would otherwise be illegal in the USA. On average, workers put in 16 hour days and make about 70 cents an hour. It should also be known that the people who make our iPhones and iPads probably don't own any because they can't afford them. Additionally, they also have underage workers, 12 to 14 years of age. A lot of the workers are exposed to harmful toxins when assembling Apple products. If Apple were to build their phone using american labor rules Apple's profits would go down while the cost of the products would go up.
The International Textile, Garment and Leather Worker's Federation (ITGLWF) is a global union federation that strives to strengthen unions and fight for work place improvements. According to ITGLWF, there are many other well known name brand stores that save a dollar by using sweatshops to produce their products. A few recognizable names are NIKE, Banana Republic, Walmart, and The Gap. Lands End, Levis, Ralph Lauren and Adidas are also guilty of human rights violations in sweatshops. They are accused of underpaying and exploiting their employees, especially women who make up 76% of their work force. Sexual intimidation and abuse has been stated as being common. Many of the factories are unsafe and those who are in charge of them often engage in unethical or illegal behavior. Although these practices are now being openly publicized, many of the conditions that workers have to endure have not changed.
No one wants to buy products made with sweatshop labor but, it is hard to know what products you have to avoid since there are so many. Yes, we may be contributing as we blindly go about making our everyday purchases but now that people are becoming more aware, have they changed what products they will or won't buy as a form of protest? Are people really serious about making changes so that they don't support products made in sweatshops? Are those 18 U.T. students and others who agree with them really ready to clean out their closets, or, more importantly, give up their iPads or iPhones? I doubt it.
