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Dec 7th,
2006 Reports
from the different Clean Clothes Campaigns and projects
 July
- November 2006
Austria - Clean Clothes-Kampagne
Public Awareness Campaigns
China Tour
From the September 14th to September 17th Yuk Yuk
Choi and Jenny Chan from China visited Austria.
The Austrian CCC organised a press conference, a
panel discussion after a cinema showing of "China
Blue", and a seminar. The media coverage was very
good, a fact high-lighted by a report in the Austrian
TV News. Other activities
and Events
- Over the summer the content of the Austrian
CCC website was revised, and we are working
on a new graphic design for the website.
- In a radio show Christian Mücke and Michaela
Königshofer spoke for 45 minutes about the work
of the CCC and answered questions of the listeners.
- A radio show about the work of the CCC was
broadcasted in cooperation with Women solidarity.
- We gave a presentation about the CCC on two
schools in Wels and Neusiedl.
- We organised a presentation of the CCC with
an information stall at three events.
Solidarity Work Urgent
AppealsPaxar
We posted a report on the Austrian CCC website of
the Paxar case with a sample protest letter. An
action request was sent out to the UA-Activists.
746 protest letters were sent from the Austrian
CCC website. We reported about the Paxar case in
the Newsletter of the Austrian CCC.
North Sails
We were in contact with ITGLWF and Austrian metal
and textile workers union GMT on the OECD complaint.
Until now we have spread around 1000 protest postcards
and have collected around 200 signatures.
Bangladesh
We wrote a report and two updates about the developments
in Bangladesh (during the summer). We reported about
Bangladesh in the Newsletter of the Austrian CCC
in July. We published a report and one update about
the minimum wages in Bangladesh on the website of
the Austrian CCC plus one sample letter addressed
to BGMEA and BKMEA and one sample letter addressed
to New Yorker, Kik, NKD, Hofer and Lidl. An action
request was sent out to the UA-Activists, until
October 1424 protest letters were sent from the
Austrian CCC website. New Publications
and Materials Action
handbook
We have published a printed version of the CCC Action
handbook.
Belgium North - Schone Kleren
Campagne Public Awareness
- Cycling event Mount Ventoux
This was a trade union initiative for awareness
raising and fundraising, which brought the CCC
in touch with Bioracer, a Belgian producer of
cycling wear and market leader for team equipment.
- China tour
We organised a conference, meetings with international
and national trade unions, a strategy meeting
with steering groups on Olympics 2008 and a
factory visit to Sioen (work wear).
- T-shirts for organisations and events
We are doing basic research on suppliers and
buyers and are developing some materials.
Solidarity Work Urgent
Appeals Spectrum - Bangladesh
We are following up with trade union delegates of
Carrefour. GP Garments - Sri Lanka We are keeping
in touch with our partner Anton Marcus and the NCP
to find out about their statement.
Workwear Lanka We are
keeping in touch with our partner Anton Marcus and
Maquila Solidarity Network, and we are pressuring
the Belgian buyer Midera.
Hermosa - El Salvador
One Belgian NGO (FOS) is taking up this appeal.
Harvest Rich - Bangladesh
We sent a letter to Carrefour, and are following
up with trade union delegates of Carrefour. Companies
- FWF project
We had a first meeting with Creamoda, the employers'
federation of Belgian garment producers (see
report Belgium South below).
- Clean Clothes at work
This is ongoing, we have produced some new materials.
Public Authorities Ethical
Procurement Clean Clothes
Communities
Ongoing activities.
Belgium South - Campagne Vętements
Propres Public Awareness
Campaigns World
Cup
We released the "Off side"-report together with
Oxfam Magasins du monde, and got attention for the
urgent appeal on Panarub (see urgent appeal section
below).
Public Procurement
We did a pre-election campaign for the local elections,
in coalition with environment and development organisations
through local groups requesting engagement from
the candidates on several issues, among them public
procurement of work wear. Twenty local communities
committed themselves. We will follow up with a technical
manual, indicators of progress and an annual evaluation
involving local groups.
Giant supermarkets
We are working together with Attac, trade unions,
NGOs, rural organisations and consumer groups on
the negative impacts of big supermarkets on several
issues (among them workers in production and retailing).
We are doing public awareness work (Attac university
and follow up). One of the possible next steps will
be to work on a proposal for a European directive
against the abusive use of the supermarkets' dominant
position.
China visit
Our five Chinese guests (Patrick, Vikky, Staphany,
Lai Ha and Michael) were staying in Belgium from
the 30th of September to the 4th of October. Most
of the programme was co-organised by the two Belgian
campaigns:
- A seminar on the Chinese garment industry
(2nd of October): 100 participants from member
organisations and from Belgian garment companies,
high level participation from federations of
employers (retailers and garment production),
European commission, European trade unions and
FWF. We received excellent prime time coverage
on national radio.
- A strategic platform meeting to start planning
the next Olympic campaign and other meetings
with ICFTU and national trade union federations.
- A visit to a work wear Belgian company (Sioen),
jointly organised by the trade unions and the
management.
- A meeting with young jobless workers and the
local press in a region suffering from the relocation
of the textile and garment industry.
Clean clothes at work a trade
union's initiative
We re-launched the trade union campaign to request
clean work wear in private and public enterprises
and institutions. Solidarity
Work Urgent Appeals
Bangladesh
- We are following up on Spectrum with Cotton
Group about its participation in the voluntary
funds.
- We have contacts with Carrefour following
up the release of a recent child labour report.
We are preparing a trade union demand for the
next European workers council (end of November).
Indonesia
Panarub
We have launched an urgent appeal during the World
Cup (1700 e-mails were sent to adidas), and had
a meeting with Perbupas and GSBI in Indonesia in
August.
Thailand - Gina
We are following up the urgent appeal together with
Oxfam solidarity. Companies
Pilot for independent verification,
using the FWF, in the work wear sector After
a first discussion initiated by the sectoral trade
unions in the social dialogue structure, together
with the Belgian garment producers federation, this
employer federation agreed to be part of the project.
The same process still needs to be finalised with
the employers of the laundry sector. A first presentation
of the pilot project to the companies took place
on the 21st of November. Public
Authorities Ethical
Procurement
See "Campaigns".
Public social label
We are moving towards the creation (through a law)
of a public foundation with a yearly budget of 900.000
euros to raise awareness of the consumers and companies
of the public labels (social label and euro ecological
labels). New Publications and
Materials
- Updated China brochure (October 2006)
Soon :
- a brochure on Bangladesh: the price of our
t-shirts
- a leaflet to present the technical manual
on public procurement of work wear
- a technical manual on public procurement of
work wear
Germany - Kampagne für 'Saubere'
Kleidung Public Awareness
Campaigns World
Cup - Campaign
- We did actions, workshops and seminars in
different city's (Berlin, Köln, Frankfurt/Oder,
Rostock, Frankfurt/Main, Magdeburg, Halle, Chemnitz,
Leipzig, Dortmund) with Action-Tattoos with
information, a huge T-shirt and protest cards.
- More than 50 kg of protest cards where collected.
More than 10.000 protest-cards and signature-lists
demanding a living wage were delivered at a
discussion with Frank Henke (adidas) on November
8th.
- During the campaign a video-clip was shown
in the subway and movie-theaters targeting the
sporting goods industry.
- We did press work, resulting in many press
articles and interviews.
- For information about the WC-campaign please
visit www.inkota.de/wm2006;
www.saubere-kleidung.de
or www.ci-romero.de
Tchibo - Campaign
- A follow up meeting with Tchibo representatives
took place on November 11th.
Other activities and Events
- INKOTA is the official film partner of China
Blue. The documentary will be shown in a nation
wide film festival taking place in over 60 cities.
During the film festival INKOTA will organise
several activities and presents the CCC work.
- CCC-Germany became member of CorA (Corporate
Accountability network).
Solidarity Work Urgent
Appeals Spectrum/Bangladesh
We are building a coalition with representatives
of the protestant church, are pressuring Karstadt
Quelle to attend in a follow up meeting on the case,
and had a meeting with KQ to hand over 500 signatures
of church representatives from all over the world.
Bangladesh/Riots
We sent an appeal for action to the German Embassy
in Dhaka (September). Philippines
Appeal
We sent an appeal for action to adidas (October).
Panarub/Indonesia
We launched a public appeal (June) and contacted
adidas.Partner ActivitiesWe
organised a training workshop of the CoC Network
Jakarta on codes of conduct and the impact of the
expiry of the ATC (2-4 August 2006 Depok).Companies
Brand related work
- The pilot-project with PUMA AG failed, because
Puma was not willing to pay for the prolongation.
- We participated in a stakeholder meeting organised
by Puma.
- We had a meeting with the Tchibo social department
staff and Systain; focusing on Bangladesh (Basic
Apparels, MFA forum) and Tchibo's purchasing
strategy.
Public AuthoritiesEthical
ProcurementWe formed a team of experts (representatives
of communities, NGOs, companies and the government
of Nordrhein-Westfalen): "Fachforum NRW für die
Integration von Sozialstandards in öffentlichen
Ausschreibungen bei Arbeitsbekleidung" We contacted
the Ministry of Economy about the new EU-guidelines.
New Publications and Materials
- ARTE TV film production on labour conditions
in Indonesia (adidas suppliers), India (H&M),
Turkey (OTTO) and Spain (Inditex) due to be
broadcasted at the end of 2006. Indonesia: CCC
representatives were interviewed on August 10
in Jakarta; interviews with Perbupas/GSBI, SPN
and PMK ; factory visits and visits to workers'
homes were also part of the research.
- Feb.-June 2006: Spanish, French and Thai translations
of the 4th revised edition of "Workers' tool
or PR ploy? A guide to codes of international
labour practice", ed. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
/ SÜDWIND Institut für Ökonomie und Ökumene.
Available in Spanish and French at www.suedwind-instutut.de
- Documentation on the Tchibo campaign of the
CCC will be edited by Terre des Femmes (in German)
- The German version of "Looking for a Quick
Fix".
International secretariat -
Clean Clothes Campaign CoordinationOrganisation
Euromeeting and 10 YEARS CCC party
The IS, together with the Belgian CCCs, organised
and coordinated the European meeting, November 16th
and 17th, Brussels, and we subsequently celebrated
10 YEARS of CCC.
Preparation International Forum
The IS is, with the input of the European CCCs,
working on the preparation of the International
Forum. The outcomes of the Brussels Euromeeting
will give the necessary guidance for this.
CCC work in "new" countries
The IS has been supporting the Norwegian organisation
Future in our hands in setting up the CCC in Norway.
Also, talks are going on with organisations in Portugal
and Denmark, about making CCC related work in their
countries more structured, and eventually move into
a CCC coalition.
Book History of the CCC
The IS has started preparing for a book on the history
of the CCC as a movement, coinciding with the secretariat
existing for over 15 years, many CCCs for 10 years
and the International Forum coming up. The expected
writer, Liesbeth Sluiter, is at this moment busy
applying for funds and finding a publisher.
China Meeting and tour
Representatives from six Hong Kong / mainland partner
organisations toured Europe in September. On the
27th and 28th the CCC China Strategy days were organised
in Cambridge, where also representatives from Global
Unions, Oxfam and others participated. The first
day was more general on strategies to improve the
workers' situation in China, and strategies for
European groups to support our HK and mainland partners.
The second day focused on possibilities for campaigning
towards the Beijing Olympics. Solidarity
Work Urgent Appeals
In addition to ongoing casework, the IS UA team
followed up on new cases from the Philippines, Cambodia
and Bangladesh. During this period the IS UA team
worked on finalising the UA manual and preparing
the UA training workshop (focusing on media work
and dialogue with companies), which was held in
the UK on Sept. 26th. The manual is now being revised
to include inputs from the training. The IS team
discussed the issues of strategic decision-making
in relation to UA case selection; based on this
discussion an input document was written for the
November Euro meeting. Work is underway on a publication
focusing on the successful aspects of CCC UA work.
Funding: In mid-July
the Sigrid Rausing Trust informed us that they would
fund CCC UA work during 2006/07. In consultation
with the European CCCs a decision was made to distribute
these funds to several CCCs to support their UA
work. Companies Monitoring
and Verification Jo-In
update
8-20 July 2006 - Turkish trade unions, NGOs, business
associations, factory management, and brand representatives
assembled in Istanbul to participate in Jo-In's
training seminar. Offered in Turkish to businesses
in one day and to non-businesses over the course
of two days, the training clarified similarities
and differences among the six and reviewed various
tools, such as complaints mechanisms, that can be
accessed by local stakeholders in their efforts
to improve workplace conditions. In developing the
training, the six organisations in Jo-In sought
a clearer, more efficient alternative to the practice
of holding six separate trainings for stakeholders
in countries where many or all of the six organisations
work. The Jo-In training materials can be used for
local stakeholder training around the world and
are available from the Jo-In website. A local working
group meeting was held in August, and a next one
is planned for November. The assessments are presently
underway at 5 factories. The outcomes will be discussed
at the next steering committee/stakeholder forum
which will be organised early next year. Brand
related workCCC staff participated in the
public part of the MFA Forum meeting early September
in London, which focused on Bangladesh. Brands sourcing
in Bangladesh were subsequently approached on issues
relating to wages and the EPZ law. Public
AuthoritiesCCC provided input (in writing
and during a meeting) for Richard Howitt, reporter
to the EP on CSR. New Publications
and Materials New international newsletter
A new newsletter was published in October 2006,
containing articles on World Cup campaigning, Jo-In,
Low-Cost Retailers, the national CCC Belgium South,
urgent appeals and new resources.
The Netherlands - Schone Kleren
Kampagne Public AwarenessTrue
Blue
True Blue (www.true-blue.info)
was a joint campaign by the Dutch CCC, Amnesty International,
Fair Wear Foundation, Goede Waar & Co (consumer
organisation) and Cinema Delicatessen (distributor
of the China Blue Movie) with the aim to raise awareness
of working conditions in the Chinese garment industry.
The campaign was launched at the release of China
Blue in the film theatres on September 14, a documentary
on the life of a young Chinese garment worker in
a jeans factory. From 18 - 20 September, Yuk Yuk
Choi (Worker Empowerment) and Jenny Chan (SACOM)
were in the Netherlands. We organised three debates
in different film theatres with the audience after
seeing the documentary, a meeting for our platform
organisations, a guest lecture at a fashion school
and Amnesty International organised a company screening
on CSR & China. There was a lot of interest by the
media for Yuk Yuk Choi and Jenny Chan: coverage
in two national newspapers, one regional newspaper
and two radio stations. Up till now, requests from
schools and fashion institutes come in to see China
Blue and having a program/discussion along with
it.
Groen Licht (Green Light)
This will be a new campaign focusing on the public
transport sector. The aim is to raise awareness
amongst workers working in this sector through union
channels and the workers councils in public transport
companies, the commitment of public transport companies
to the purchase of clean representative clothing,
and to get garment companies become a FWF member.
New material comprises a poster, leaflet and action
card. A CCC-bus tour to the HQ's of the public transport
companies is scheduled for 2007. An interactive
web portal will be set up where buyers for work
wear (including also representative wear) can ask
questions. The portal will be developed and piloted
by the Dutch CCC, if successful it will be translated
into French and English. Solidarity
Work Urgent Appeals
Fibre & Fabrics International
- India
The Dutch CCC and the India Committee in the Netherlands
(ICN) are publicly campaigning on G-Star. We contacted
G-Star in October 2005 after information about appalling
labour conditions (including verbal and physical
abuse) in FFI and JKPL (suppliers in Bangalore,
India) was uncovered by the local union GATWU. From
March 2006, G-Star kept silent, while additional
interviews with workers uncovered new disturbing
information. Late May, we issued a protest letter.
G-Star questioned the validity of the violations
and started blaming the CCC and the local union
GATWU of causing a conflict. Since late July, the
CCC and the ICN hold off dialogue with G-Star because
of a restraining order placed on GATWU and other
Indian labour rights organisations. This court order
prevents them from sharing information about the
labour situation in FFI and JKPL with others within
and outside India. Late August, FFI/JKPL applied
for contempt of court proceedings. Thus far the
defendants are not heard; the hearing is now postponed
to December. In October, the Dutch CCC and the ICN
filed an OECD complaint. Companies
C&A In September, the
CCC, FNV and LBC (Belgian union) spoke with C&A
related to the report by the Brazilian research
organisation Observatorio Social uncovering that
C&A's suppliers are subcontracting production to
unregistered workshops exploiting illegal immigrants
from neighbouring countries. C&A stated an investigation
to their (sub) contracting chain in Brazil. C&A
spoke to all their suppliers and contacted a migrant
organisation to support the illegal migrants. Furthermore
C&A´s Code of Conduct and Socam were discussed.
Pilot project company data
base
The Dutch CCC participated in the pilot phase of
this project. Hema (BSCI member) is submitted to
the database. Hema did fill in the requested questions
but did not sent ant additional documents to support
their statements.
Project on Transparency
The Dutch CCC did a quick research on three companies
about their transparency on the availability and
reliability of information concerning labour conditions,
from a consumers´ point of view. Information was
gathered in the shops (are shop keepers able to
tell you?), from the internet and website and by
calling the companies. This research is one of the
case studies that will be input for a debate that
SOMO will organise in December on this issue of
the need form more legislation on transparency.
New Publications and Materials Dutch newsletter ´Schoon Genoeg´, November 2006.
Norway - Kampanjen Rene KlćrWe are not formally established yet but hope to be so soon. We have contacted different organisations with the aim of cooperation and are following up these communications now.
Public Awareness Campaigns
We have not engaged in any campaign yet but have plans to join the campaign on OL in Bejing 2008.Other activities and EventsWe organised a workshop about Urgent Appeals at Changemaker's (Norwegian Church Aid youth organisation) weekend seminar in October.
At the Future in Our Hands annual meeting a lecture on CCCs aim and working methods was held and all FIOHs local groups took part in this.
We have started work on some urgent appeals involving
Norwegian brands. New Publications
and Materials We have started to translate
the Swedish brochure "Om Rena Kläder" ("About Clean
Clothes") into Norwegian. Our website www.reneklaer.no
is registered and the design work has started.
Spain - Campańa Ropa Limpia
Public Awareness Campaigns Public procurement: see "Public Authorities"
Other activities and EventsPress releases
- July 13: PR about Inditex shareholder's meeting (CRL denounces grave lack in INDITEX CSR policy).
- September 7th: announcement of the conference and screening of China Blue.
Interviews (selection)
- June 30: CRL Aragón, Alba Santos, interviewed by "Aragón radio" about CCC work.
- July 15 and August 6: CRL Aragón, Alba Santos, interviewed and participate in a debate in "Aragón radio".
- July 19: news about the intervention of the CCC at INDITEX shareholder's meeting on TVG (TV channel in Galicia), "La Opinión de la Coruńa" and "El Correo Gallego" (regional newspapers).
- October 5th: CRL Catalonia, Albert Sales interviewed at BTV about labour conditions in the garment industry in China.
- October 5th: CRL Spain, Eva Kreisler interviewed by RKO radio about labour conditions in the garment industry in China.
Street Events
- June 24: street action in the framework of the campaign "What lies behind INDUYCO's clothing" in front of El Corte Inglés' mall in Pamplona. Signatures collection and distribution of postcards.
- June 30 and September 22: street action for the INDUYCO campaign in Valencia.
- July 1: street action for the INDUYCO campaign in Zaragoza (160 signatures collected).
- July: signature collection and awareness raising in three street activities in the Basque Country (markets and fairs). Adaptation of the CCC discourse for a medieval market audience.
- September 2 and 3: signatures collection in the framework of the campaign "What lies behind INDUYCO's clothing" at the Zaragoza Global Festival.
- September 16 and 17: signatures collection for the INDUYCO campaign at the Campo de las Culturas de Daroca Festival in Zaragoza.
Educational activities
- June 1: Screening of the video "Tejido con dignidad" and presentation of the CCC for primary school students in the school "María Moliner" in Zaragoza.
- June 16: Presentation of the CCC and debate in a cultural centre in the city of Zaragoza.
- June 16th: Presentation of the CCC and its UA system at the "Escuela de Adultos San Federico" in Madrid.
- October 5: presentation of the CCC at a Forum on Responsible Consumption in Pamplona.
- October 17: Presentation of the CCC at a conference on organic cotton at "La Casa Encendida" in Madrid.
- October 19: Presentation of the CCC at the faculty of Sociology - University of Navarra.
Activities on China
- China Blue screening in 5 cinemas in Spain. Before the screening, CRL presented the work of the Clean Clothes Campaign.
- China tour: Patrick Poon (CLB) and Staphany Wong (HKCTU) visited Barcelona and Santiago de Compostela.
- China Activities in Barcelona (4th and 5th of October): meeting with CRL team on the 4th, meeting with Catalan's public authorities, meeting with representatives of trade union (UGT) and NGO (Intermón Oxfam), conference "Made in China" (open to companies, trade unions, NGOs and public in general) and screening of China Blue.
- China Activities realised in Santiago de Compostela: breakfast with journalists, conference and debate with companies (rep of Inditex, Adolfo Dominguez and Textilonia), public authorities, professors of the University and trade unions.
We received very good media coverage. China Blue screenings are scheduled in the coming months in Barakaldo, Vitoria, Bilbao and Donosti (all cities in the Basque Country).
Solidarity Work Urgent
Appeals1. Cases taken up:
SPECTRUM follow up: emails, phone calls and meetings with representative of INDITEX.
2. A new UA leaflet was published by CRL Valencia.
Companies
Brand related workEL CORTE INGLÉS (ECI)
See "Street action".
July: meeting with the companies El Corte Inglés and INDUYCO (principal clothes supplier of El Corte Inglés) together with Intermón Oxfam, CECU (critical consumer organisation), two other NGOs and CRL to get information about their suppliers and their codes of conduct. El Corte Inglés is the main department store in Spain, it has more than 30.000 suppliers.
Bangladesh: we raised the issue at the meeting and sent ECI a letter in relation to the labour unrest in Bangladesh (ECI is sourcing from Bangladesh).
INDUYCO
See "Street action".
We sent them a letter in relation to the labour unrest in Bangladesh (INDUYCO is sourcing from Bangladesh). Surprisingly, a CSR representative attended the conference "Made in China" and the screening of China Blue in Barcelona.
ADOLFO DOMINGUEZ
Good news: they've abandoned the BSCI and have joined the ETI recently. They are in regular contact with CRL Galicia to share information.
INDITEX
See Urgent Appeals.
MANGO
We sent them a letter in relation to the labour unrest in Bangladesh (MANGO is sourcing from Bangladesh).
Public AuthoritiesEthical Procurement21st of September: presentation of Public Procurement Programme at the Conference "Ecoprocura" (about ethical public procurement) in Barcelona.
5th of October: meeting with Patrick and Staphany (see "China")
22nd of October: Public Procurement booklet printed again (1.000 booklets)
22nd of October: new leaflet of Public Procurement Programme
25th of October: the first e-newsletter of the "Xarxa per la Compra Pública Ética" released
New Publications and MaterialsSee "Ethical public procurement in Catalonia" and "urgent appeals".
We are working on some new audiovisual materials:-
A 30' documentary about the relation between the destruction of farmers way of life and the maquilas, recorded in Central America.
- A person connected to the CRL has travelled to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to prepare a documentary (50') describing the problems of the maquilas in the last 10 years, including the analysis made by the persons involved and the solutions they suggest.
- A team of the Basque TV channel (ETB) will travel at the beginning of the year to Romania (maybe Bulgaria) to record testimonies of workers in the garment industry.
Sweden - Rena Kläder
Public Awareness Campaigns Public Procurement - Mina Skattepengar - My Tax Money
In July we arranged a big national event during the annual "Politician week" (a huge PR/politician/media event) on the island Gotland. 25 of our local activists took part in the activities and among other things we arranged a seminar/panel with the title "Social responsibility - what can the public learn from the private". Amongst the participants were Ingrid Schullström from H&M, Wanja Lunby Wedin (president of the biggest trade union confederation), Kristian Karlsson from the neo-liberal think thank Timbro and Fredrik Malm (president of the Youth Association of the Liberal Party). It was a popular seminar with about 80 people in the audience. During the week we got a lot of attention and positive reactions from the politicians visiting the Politician week and some media attention too.
The campaign has continued on a local level. In seven cities local campaign groups have been formed and they now target their local politicians in the municipality and the county council.
Two weeks before the Swedish general election we released an overview of the answers from all parties in the parliament about there position on ethical demands in public procurement. Regarding to the answers, 5 of 7 parties have a positive attitude concerning ethical demands. One of the biggest Swedish newspapers wrote an article on the subject.
A training on how to affect politicians and communicate our demands better was organised in November. 25 of our local activists took part. We are also planning to release a report on work wear used by the police in late November.
Play Fair 2006
Play Fair 2006 in Sweden focused on two Swedish sportswear retailers, Stadium and Team Sportia, and the Swedish Olympic Committee. During the summer we had meetings with Stadium and Team Sportia and they talked a lot, but so far we have seen no action. Finally, we received an answer from the Swedish Olympic Committee and we had a meeting with the General Secretary Gunilla Lindberg in November.
During June, July and August the platform members Youth of The Swedish Church and Red Cross Youth Association have arranged a tour to several music festivals as a part of this campaign. They have visited six music festivals and raised 8000 postcards to put pressure on Stadium, Team Sportia and SOC.
Other activities and EventsBook Fair
21-24 September Rena Kläder took part in the Book Fair in Gothenburg together with LO-TCO Secretariat of International Trade Union Development Co-operation, a member of the Swedish platform. We arranged seminars and presented our textbook "Is it worth it?" about trade, human rights and the garment industry to teachers.
China Visit
In September we had the opportunity to welcome Yuk Yuk Choi and Jenny Chan. During their visit we arranged several meetings and seminars in Stockholm and Gothenburg, among others a seminar at the Book Fair in Gothenburg with Swedish fair trade clothing production company DEM Collective on problems in the garment industry in Asia. Unfortunately we did not get much media attention about their visit.
Rena Kläder training
21-22 October Rena Kläder held an activist training. 13 activists participated and the majority were members of The Commercial Employees´ Union and Red Cross youth association. The education focused on Play Fair 2006 and public procurement.
Solidarity Work Urgent
AppealsBangladesh
All big retailers in Sweden have information about the situation in Bangladesh but just a few of them (H&M, Varner Group and New Wave) say that they use suppliers in Bangladesh. We have communicated all information about the work to increase the minimum wage and we urge them to take action now. At the 30th of October the situation in Bangladesh was highlighted on the national television news and we commented on the situation.
Gina
We are in dialogue with Lindex and Clover Group. Lindex orders from Clover Group factories in Cambodia and China but not from Gina and therefore they do not accept their responsibility. Lindex has told us that they are soon going to do audits in the factories in China and Cambodia.
Lanka Workwear
We have been in contact with Ejendals in Sri Lanka several times and the ILO has made a recommendation but so far the situation has not changed.
Companies
Brand related work Fashion Report
The report focuses on nine smaller, Swedish fashion companies and was released in the beginning of July. We got a lot of media attention in newspapers and the report was highlighted on the national tv news. A month after the release we followed up with a public seminar where three of the companies in the report took part in the debate together with the Commercial Employees´ Union and the Red Cross Youth Association. The report concludes that 4 of the 9 companies do not even have a Code of Conduct. None of the companies monitor their code.
Indiska Report
H&M took part in the Swedish pilot that was conducted a couple of years ago. Indiska is another company that participated in the same pilot. Now when the H&M report is finished Rena Kläder have started to prepare a similar report about Indiska. The release was planned for August or September but is postponed because we want the writer to visit some of Indiska's largest suppliers. It will now be released in late December.
Public Authorities
Ethical ProcurementMina Skattepengar
See "Campaigns".
New Publications and Materials Questionnaire to all parties in the parliament
About there position on ethical demands in public procurement. In Swedish.
Fashion Report
About nine, smaller, Swedish fashion companies. In Swedish.
Flyer
For the public procurement campaign, "My Tax Money".
In Swedish.
UK Labour Behind the Label
Public Awareness Campaigns 'Let's Clean Up Fashion' campaign
- We surveyed and profiled around 30 high street companies.
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Eight platform members were involved in production of the website and report.
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The report has been very well received by media, labour rights consultants, ethical investment fund managers (several meetings took place), but not by companies!
The 'Take a Stand on Fashion' postcards are very popular.
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Our China Blue film screening was attended by 150 people.
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www.cleanupfashion.co.uk
Bargain retailers/Tescopoly campaign - We published
a small report on low-cost retailers/purchasing
practices.
- The media are really interested and have picked
up on it quite a bit - companies are very scared,
and Asda (one of the four profiled) wrote a
letter to the Guardian newspaper in response
to an article about the report.
- Some research
from Bangladesh on these retailers is about
to be published by LBL/War on Want.
Corporate
accountability
- The Tescopoly campaign, of which LBL is a member,
successfully pushed the government's Competition
Commission to investigate supermarkets. Unfortunately
it doesn't look like they are interested in overseas
suppliers.
- The UK Government passed a new Company
Law Reform Bill, which includes greater responsibility
for Directors and an obligation to disclose supply
chains. It's a very weak obligation though, and
it's not clear whether it will be of any use to
us.
Solidarity Work Urgent
AppealsBangladesh
We had an e-action on our website.
We wrote to the British High Commissioner, and to all high street retailers about the situation, and met with one (Next).
LBL staff went to speak at the European Parliament, and has been in touch with MEPs.
Gina Form
We did a demonstration outside Calvin Klein's store in London.
There is an e-action on our website.
G-star
We did a demonstration outside the G-star store in London.
There is an e-action on our website.
Paxar
We were in touch with UK brands about this.
Harvest rich
A TV station found child labour in a factory supplying Tesco and Marks & Spencer in Bangladesh. We have been in touch with the brands and via ETI as it appears the children have just been fired as a result.
Companies
Fair trade cotton
The following retailers have launched or announced ranges made with Fair trade cotton: Marks & Spencer, Monsoon, Sainsbury's. We met with all three before they launched, and successfully got articles in the trade press explaining the problems with Fair trade cotton.
Between 4 and 14 major high street companies will launch a fair trade cotton range next year.
Arcadia group
Following our campaign last year, we were invited to meet with Topshop, one of the brands in the Arcadia group we have been campaigning on for years. They are developing a CSR policy and while it is not clear how serious their commitment is, it is still a very positive situation.
New Publications and Materials
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