From Unity, 2 June 2007

Big interest in Clean Clothes Campaign


Two weeks before the meeting at Dungiven’s Flax Mill that is going to explore the possibility of establishing an Irish branch of the CCC there is a noticeably increased interest in the world’s largest campaigning organisation against sweatshop and child labour in the garment industry.
     Marion Baur, who has invited people from all sections of society for 9 June, gave a live interview on BBC Radio Foyle’s Mark Patterson show last Wednesday, and several local papers carried reports since.
     Marion’s plea for more awareness and publicity about the situation of textile workers has been well received, and the following incomplete selection of e-mails to the Flax Mill during the last few days gives an idea of how broad the campaign could be if it got on its feet.
     Ben Sands (Sands Family): The singer-songwriter who is on an extensive solo tour of Europe at the moment writes: “I will be out of the country on June 9th but want to wish you all the best for the meeting and campaigning around these very important issues. We should meet soon so I can get an update from you . . .”
     Gregory Campbell: The DUP MP and MLA for the East Derry constituency sent his apologies for not being able to attend the meeting, and good wishes.
     Royce Harper: The performance poet and journalist with Northern Vision TV says: “I’ll try my very best to get to the meeting. This should be a thriving campaign.”
     Gillian Burke: The well-known Portadown rock singer and owner of Good Karma, a company retailing fair-trade textiles and other products: “Much needed campaign, people have to wake up and see the unbelievable circumstances people have to make textiles under. I will be at your meeting and use my shop to advertise the campaign.”
     At the meeting on 9 June, which starts at 4 p.m. and is open to all interested individuals, there will be an overview of the work of the Clean Clothes Campaign, followed by a discussion and hopefully the establishing of a standing committee for the CCC in Ireland. There will also be literature on the various projects the CCC is involved in. It should be particularly interesting to see how many representatives of textile manufacturers will turn up. All of them have been invited, including those companies that have been “outsourcing” production to sweatshops and cheap labour countries.
     Marion Baur has again asked trade unionists to put their weight behind the campaign. “Campaigning against sweatshop labour and exploitation in other countries is campaigning to keep jobs here. This fundamental logic has to be clear to our unions if they want to be successful.”
     For details contact flaxmill@gmx.net or (028) 77742655.

Home page  >  Publications  >  Unity  >  2007  >  Big interest in Clean Clothes Campaign
Baile  >  Foilseacháin  >  Unity  >  2007  >  Big interest in Clean Clothes Campaign