WELCOME TO THE ARCHIVE (1994-2014) OF THE MAQUILA SOLIDARITY NETWORK. For current information on our ongoing work on the living wage, women's labour rights, freedom of association, corporate accountability and Bangladesh fire and safety, please visit our new website, launched in October, 2015: www.maquilasolidarity.org
The holiday season is a great time for Stop Sweatshops campaigning. Organizing a caroling session in front of a local mall has proven effective. Below is a selection of some of our favourite anti-sweatshop Christmas carols.
Sweatshop Christmas Carols
Learn to Sew! Learn To Sew! Learn To Sew!
(Sang to the tune of "Let it Snow")
Oh, the economy's really frightful
but the shopping is so delightful
when you desperately need some dough
learn to sew, learn to sew, learn to sew.
Oh, there's no sign the work is stopping
cause the orders keep us hopping.
when you've got no place else to go,
learn to sew, learn to sew, learn to sew.
When you finally say good night,
and it's 2:00 a.m. in the morn,
and the foreman wants to hold you tight,
and you wish that he'd never been born.
Oh, the economy's really frightful
but the shopping is so delightful
when you desperately need some dough
learn to sew, learn to sew, learn to sew.
Oh, the industry isn't dying
but the work is really trying
when you're bank account's getting low
learn to sew, learn to sew, learn to sew.
(To the tune of "Walking in a Winter Wonderland")
Door bell rings, are you listening?
On your brow, sweat is glistening.
You're working tonight; it just isn't right,
slaving in a Sweatshop Wonderland.
Gone away are the good jobs
Here today are the sweatshops
They want you to sew
seven days in a row
slaving in a Sweatshop Wonderland.
In Toronto, Woolworth has used sweatshops
and they've paid the lowest rates in town.
Ask about a union, they'll say no ma'am.
Homeworker do the job for the poorest pay around.
Later on, they'll conspire
how to raise prices higher
The plans that they've made
won't make us better paid
Slaving in a Sweatshop Wonderland
Door bell rings, are you listening?
On your brow, sweat is glistening.
You're working tonight; it just isn't right,
slaving in a Sweatshop Wonderland.
Shirts from Honduras
and Nikes from China
clothes made in sweatshops
in North Carolina,
all wrapped in packages
and tied up with string,
these are a few of my
least favourite things.
When the sun shines
when the snow melts
when I'm feeling glad
I simply remember
my least favourite things
and then I start getting mad.
Skirts made in Malaysia
under sweatshop conditions,
clothes sewn in Toronto
for Northern Traditions,
all wrapped in packages
and tied up with string,
these are a few of my
least favourite things.
When the sun shines
when the snow melts
when I'm feeling glad
I simply remember
my least favourite things
and then I start getting mad.
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year.
Garment workers to you
wherever you are;
Good tidings for Christmas
and a Happy New Year.
Oh bring them some decent wages;
Oh bring them some decent wages;
Oh bring them some decent wages;
and a sweatshop free year.
You better watch out,
you better not cry,
better not raise
those prices too high.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He's making a list
and checking it twice,
gonna find out
who's naughty and nice,
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He sees you when you're scheming,
he knows what your workers make.
He knows when you've
been bad or good,
so be good for goodness sake.
Oh, you better watch out,
you better not cry,
better not raise
those prices too high.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
On the first day of Christmas
my boss gave to me
a piece rate worth 2 bucks a day.
On the second day of Christmas
my boss gave to me
two Gap shirts
and a piece rate worth 2 bucks a day.
On the third day of Christmas
my boss gave to me
three Barbie dolls,
two Gap shirts
and a piece rate worth 2 bucks a day.
On the fourth day of Christmas
my boss gave to me
four Woolworth vests,
three Barbie dolls,
two Gap shirts
and a piece rate worth 2 bucks a day.
etc. etc.
On the twelfth day of Christmas
my boss gave to me
twelve cents an hour
eleven sewing needles,
ten supervisors,
nine Nike runners,
eight Wal-Mart labels,
seven Guess jeans,
six hems for sewing,
five Kathie Lee tears,
four Woolworth vests,
three Barbie dolls,
two Gap shirts
and a piece rate worth 2 bucks a day.
(Tune: Oh, Tannenbaum)
Oh shopper dear
come over here
and listen to our message.
Oh shopper dear come over here
and listen to our message.
The women who toil
in far off lands
so you can wear
your favourite brands.
Don't get a break-from dawn 'till dusk
it isn't right -- let's make a fuss.
When buying shirts and pants and stuff
ask were the workers paid enough.
*Thanks to the Raging Grannies
(Tune: Jingle Bells)
Dashing through the malls
On a cold December day
Looking for a sale,
shopping come what may.
You should be aware
the pay's not always fair
for the women who sew and sweat
in factories everywhere.
So- don't be shy, ask them why
Nike can't pay well.
When Michael Jordan, we all know
gets lots and lots of dough
* Thanks to the Raging Grannies
Oh, you better watch out, you better not buy
clothes that are made in sweatshops, here's why
Santa Claus is coming to town.
Oh, you better watch out, you better not buy
clothes that are made in sweatshops, here's why
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He knows if workers have to sweat
in factories far and near.
He's asking that we stop and ask
Who made that shirt, my dear?
soooooo - stop the sweat (Tune changes to Jingle Bells)
buy wear fair
in this jolly season.
Make a choice, show you care.
Tell everyone the reason
*Thanks to the Raging Grannies
Unless otherwise noted, all work on this website is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Canada License.
