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The garment workers do indeed want these jobs, they just don't want to work in such unsafe working conditions. Can you blame them? There have been over 40 fires in garment factories in Bangladesh just this year. And of course the collapse of the factory last month, which cost 1,128 lives..
So they should take it up with their owners, managers and government, but NOT blame the customers.
And that will do what? Do you truly expect as much independence in corrupt Third World nations as we take for granted in First World nations?
We can bet when the news broke there, hundreds of thousands flocked to the region to get these jobs which are miles better than starving. Until that last sentence is not the facts, nothing will change.
There's a chance things may get a bit better. Many major European retailers have signed on including Marks & Spencer, Sweden's H & M, and Italy's Benetton.
Also, here in North America, Abercrombie & Fitch, and PVH, the parent company of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger have signed the Accord.
Despite the deaths of over 1,100 garment factory workers in the collapse of a garment factory in Bangladesh, and hundreds of deaths of workers in fires, fourteen North American companies are not signing on to the new "Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh."
You are blaming the US companies?
The minute those companies start charging more....a competitor will come along using the same crap work conditions....and take all their customers with their lower prices.
Barking at the companies is all feel-good and whatnot but if you look at history, the US consumer is an amoral greedy POS.
You have to educate the global consumer, not treat the symptoms.
Despite the deaths of over 1,100 garment factory workers in the collapse of a garment factory in Bangladesh, and hundreds of deaths of workers in fires, fourteen North American companies are not signing on to the new "Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh."
The agreement requires a 5-year commitment from participating retailers to conduct independent safety inspections of factories and pay up to $500,000 per year toward safety improvements, and has seen greater support abroad than in the U.S.A.
Whereas most European companies have signed the accord, the following American retailers have not:
Walmart
Sears,
JCPenney
Kohls
The Gap
Macy's
Target
Nordstrom
American Eagle Outfitters
Some of the companies claim they are working with other groups on improving safety for garment workers overseas, but I'll believe that when I see it.
But somehow $30 million dollar CEO salaries don't seem to get in the way at all.....
A corporation barley wants to pay their CEO. I'm glad you feel passionate about this subject, I really do but you need to think of it in a business mindset. Apple's Tim Cook was the highest paid CEO last year I believe and on his watch an Apple contractor, Foxxconn, had a mass suicide on his watch. Apple could bring those jobs back home but it's all about maximizing profits therefore most of Apple operations will continue to be in China. Now going back to what you're saying, if those corporations did refuse to pay for something that isn't mandatory such as the $500k you speak of, would you be mad if they moved back to The USA or a Western society and those workers are left without jobs? Would you want us to start sending money to them since they don't have jobs now?
Trust me, I understand your frustration but lets think rationally here. I don't think any of us would mind paying $.25 extra for safety, but I don't believe that number would be as true as you'd like it to be. If Nordstrom or GAP or whatever were to make its China, Bangladesh, etc factories safer, it would probably translate to tens of dollars more for the consumer, not $.25.
How about you tell the workers to form a union and demand safter work conditions? Why must it be the people in the US that have to make the changes? I mean this isnt even our country yet we are the ones that have to change.
I hear about how unions are so great and how they made it so that workplaces here in the US are safe, got better wages for workers, got more time off for workers, ect. So why not have those workers in other countries form a union?
How about you tell the workers to form a union and demand safter work conditions? Why must it be the people in the US that have to make the changes? I mean this isnt even our country yet we are the ones that have to change.
I hear about how unions are so great and how they made it so that workplaces here in the US are safe, got better wages for workers, got more time off for workers, ect. So why not have those workers in other countries form a union?
I believe there is a garment workers union in Bangladesh. But obviously their power to demand safe working conditions has been lacking. They can't really go on strike because they'd starve to death, literally.
It's only the deaths of these 1,128 workers that has sparked international outrage (seemingly missing in the U.S. though) and demands for improvements in safety.
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