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Free Activism Work Shop: Sweatshop Labour/Workers Rights

Anna | 26.01.2011 11:22

Join the Playfair 2012 Campaign, People & Planet and War on Want for a Workers' Rights Activism Day to find out more, share, learn, discuss, and discover. Whether you are a student, member of university staff, trade unionist or sabbatical officer, come along and find out how you can bring about change.

Free workshops, panels, and interactive sessions, to help you share and learn about the rights of workers in sweatshops all around the world.

This is your chance to join the movement to end human rights abuses and stand in solidarity with factory workers worldwide.

The Playfair 2012 campaign wants the organisers of the London Olympics and companies to aim for gold and ensure that workers producing sportswear and goods with the Olympic logo have their rights respected.

Millions of people are employed in the global supply chains that produce kits for Olympic teams, and the sportswear and Olympic souvenirs available on our high streets. These mainly women workers, not just the athletes, help to make the Olympics possible.

But, evidence shows that the sportswear industry and Olympic movement have a poor track record on workers’ rights. Playfair 2008 research found workers employed by Adidas suppliers in China earning £20 per month for glueing sports shoes that sell for £50 plus, and others working 80 hours a week stitching footballs. Adidas is one of London 2012’s main sponsors and licensees. In another factory producing stationery, children as young as 12 years old were being forced to work 15 hours a day.

Together we can demand an ethical Olympics providing Decent Work. London can learn from the successes and failures of previous Games. This means taking a firm approach with companies and sponsors supplying the 2012 Games, and being transparent about the supply chains that produce sportswear and Olympic goods. The Games organisers have engaged with Playfair 2012 and committed to taking some steps, but we need them to go much further.

Anna
- Original article on IMC Bristol: http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/703041