Campaigns As
workers producing clothes for brands and retailers
around the world struggle to organise and improve
their own conditions, so consumers, trade unionists
and activists worldwide can join together to exert
pressure at all levels of supply chains. This section
gives you information on the CCC's current and past
campaigns, as well as background on how we campaign.
The CCC brings together consumers, trade unions,
campaign groups and other diverse organisations
to do just that, calling on those with the power
in global supply chains to take responsibility
for workers' rights. National CCCs target companies
in their countries, pushing them to take action.
They also work as part of the international CCC
network - including partners in countries where
garments are made - to join together for coordinated
international campaigns such as the Play Fair
2008 campaign. See: www.playfair2008.org
Who does have the power and responsibility
in global supply chains? We should not forget
consumer power! The CCC raises awareness among
consumers of the conditions in which the clothes
they buy are made, and of the causes of and solutions
to the abuse of workers' rights. We regularly
organise eyewitness tours with speakers from producer
countries (follow this link for details
of a recent speaker tour). We encourage consumers
to take action by demanding that the companies
from which they buy do more to improve working
conditions, and by giving consumers the tools
to do this.
The richest, most powerful single entities
in global supply chains are the multinational
companies - brands, retailers, and increasingly
the biggest suppliers. CCC campaigns shine
a spotlight on the clothing industry, showing
how the brands and retailers make profits at the
expense of workers' rights. During the Play Fair
at the Olympics campaign in 2004, we called on
the whole sportswear industry to develop industry-wide
solutions, and placed demands on sporting bodies
like the International Olympic Committee. Read
more >>
Finally, the CCC campaigns towards governments,
who have the power to regulate corporations and
enforce the labour standards to which they have
committed through international conventions. We
have supported lawsuits
against companies who refuse to clean up their
supply chains, pushed for corporate
accountability at EU level, and used
the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises
to hold companies accountable.
Governments are also important consumers of clothing,
through the procurement of uniforms and workwear
for millions of people working in the public sector.
National CCCs across Europe have been calling
for ethical
public procurement on a local and national level.
