May 7, 2013

Join the new action to prevent further Bangladesh factory disasters

Avaaz.org is halfway towards their target of a million signatures on an online petition targeting Gap and H&M CEOs, demanding that they sign the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement to ensure that disasters like the one at Rana Plaza on April 24 never happen again. The binding agreement, negotiated between Bangladeshi and international trade unions and major apparel brands, calls for independent inspections, public reports about supplier factory conditions, mandatory repairs, and empowers workers to identify risks and refuse unsafe work without penalty. The Maquila Solidarity Network is asking all of its supporters to join with Avaaz in demanding that these two leading brands -- two of the biggest buyers of Bangladeshi clothing exports -- take responsibility for the safety of the workers that make their goods. 

>> Take action now

Asking the wrong questions about Bangladesh

From MSN's latest commentary on Huffington Post: "Media pundits have been wringing their hands over whether companies should be sourcing goods from the country, creating jobs for Bangladeshi workers, or exiting the country and taking the jobs with them. But that's the wrong question. The question isn't whether a company should be in Bangladesh or not. It's what they do when they source from Bangladesh. "Staying in Bangladesh" shouldn't be a carte blanche for maintaining the status quo. If a company truly wants to be a "force for good" they've got to do a lot more than just show up.  
>> Read the full story on Huffington Post

23 Canadian Organizations call on Loblaw to take action to prevent more worker deaths

On the eve of the Annual Meeting of Loblaw Companies Limited last week, 23 prominent Canadian trade unions, NGOs and faith organizations sent an Open Letter to the company’s Executive Chairman, Galen Weston, calling on his company to take immediate steps to ensure that the deaths and injuries suffered by hundreds of garment workers in the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh are not repeated.  
>> Read the full letter here

Maquila Solidarity Network: www.maquilasolidarity.org The Maquila Solidarity Network (MSN) is a labour and women's rights organization that supports the efforts of workers in global supply chains to win improved wages and working conditions and a better quality of life. We welcome your donations.