community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
No Sweatshops, Bucco!
by SweatFree Baseball Supporter
Monday, Mar. 15, 2004 at 4:11 AM
nosweatshopsbucco@yahoo.com
Sweatshop Solidarity Activists in Pittsburgh continue to talk to baseball fans about sweatshops and demand immediate action by the Pittsburgh Pirates to protect the workers who sew the team’s logo.
WIDE, WIDE WORLD OF SWEATSHOPS:
Baseball '04 Home Openers – Baseballs Made in Costa Rica and Bobble Heads Made in China
As spring training began, the National Labor Committee welcomed the 2004 baseball season by issuing two reports on Major League Sweatshops. Rawlings has been sewing baseballs in Costa Rica for the last 10 years (since they pulled out of Haiti) where they pay workers just 25 cents per ball. The popular Bobble Head figurines of players and mascots given away at game day promotions and sold at Wal Mart are made in China by workers who make as little as 17 cents an hour. During the factory’s busy season, 18 hour shifts 7 days a week are mandatory in some cases.
Key elements of each report emphasize pervasive fear in the factories, and verbal and physical abuse of workers. Workers know that they will be terminated for speaking out or organizing a labor union to improve conditions. The workers who testified for these reports need protection.
There are no codes of conduct, and international and local labor laws are being flagrantly violated. Factory monitoring by Wal-Mart officials and other company-paid monitors has been demonstrated to be a whitewash of abuses.
The reports go on to explain the power that Major League Baseball has -- that the team owners and baseball players have to stop abuses. Major League Baseball demonstrates its tremendous power over products with MLB logos through its strict enforcement of copyright laws. Read the reports at http://www.nlcnet.org.
Sweatshop Solidarity Activists in Pittsburgh continue to talk to baseball fans about sweatshops and demand immediate action by the Pittsburgh Pirates to protect the workers who sew the team’s logo.
PNC PARK SWEATSHOP SOLIDARITY ACTIONS 2004
Saturday April 24 –Reds – Chuck Tanner Figurine Night
Friday May 28 – Cubs - Baseball Card Set Night
Saturday June 19 – Mariners - Team Photo Fest
Saturday July 3 – Brewers - Stars and Stripes Cap Night
Monday August 23 – Diamond Backs - Dollar Dog Night
Sunday September 19 – Mets – Kids Snoopy Bobble Head Day
Sweatshop Solidarity Activists will meet 1 ½ hours before the start of each game near the Roberto Clemente statue - rain or shine. Help plan campaign activities by writing to SweatFree Baseball, POB 99416, Pittsburgh, PA 15233 or join the campaign email discussion by emailing SweatFree_Baseball_Campaign-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
The message to the workers who sew baseballs and produce bobble heads: The fight for labor rights and freedom from fear in Major League Sweatshops is joined by Pittsburgh Pirate fans. The message for the Pittsburgh Pirates: No Sweatshops, Bucco!
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