October 9th 2003 - The CCC continues to demand the reinstatement of more than 500 workers illegally dismissed from PT Kahatex Sweater factory in Bandung, Indonesia. Workers, producing for such brands as Tom Tailor, s.Oliver, Olsen, and Lerros, were locked out after going on strike to demand that they be paid the minimum wage and that other legal rights be implemented. Various CCCs have taken action to put pressure on the European companies sourcing at PT Kahatex Sweater.

German retailer Tom Tailor originally denied they were producing garments at PT Kahatex Sweater, but when confronted with the evidence, did admit that they were sourcing from the factory. On September 26th, CCC activists in Hamburg took to the streets, demanding that the company takes responsibility for ensuring that workers rights are respected at Kahatex Sweater. The German CCC held an action in front of a Tom Tailor shop to protest the company's lack of action in the Kahatex case.

The public responded with interest and within two hours more than 120 signatures were collected for a letter of protest addressed to Tom Tailor. The CCC activists wrapped themselves in white shrouds made of bed sheets to symbolize the exploitation of the Kahatex workers. Some wore police hats to draw attention to the fact that Tom Tailor has been given a contract to produce new police uniforms for the city of Hamburg. Activists laid down in front of the Tom Tailor shop while others distributed information to shoppers. Newspapers and the local television "Hamburg Journal" reported about the action. Tom Tailor responded by saying that they would check the situation at the factory. The CCC activists, whose press statement was supported by the CCC Germany network member ver.di, the German retail workers union, were also joined in their action by members of ATTAC.

Ongoing campaign targets s.Oliver in Austria

The Austrian CCC created a stir in September when they launched a campaign targeting s.Oliver, another Kahatex Sweater customer. S.Oliver, a German garment brand and retailer, is sponsoring the new high-profile TV show 'Starmania' in Austria. As part of the show, viewers vote weekly on four contestants who sing; the highest scoring performer proceeds to a final round. During the finals there is another round of voting, with the winner being named the 'Star' and receiving a contract to produce a CD, etc. In the final round there is a possibility that the contestants (known as Starmaniacs) can send a 'friendship ticket' to another contestant to get him/her back in the running.

The Austrian CCC has called upon people to send 'friendship tickets' (now a well-known expression in Austria) to the show's sponsor to get the Kahatex workers their jobs back. More than 400 people sent s.Oliver friendship tickets when the campaign was launched.

The campaign has generated a great deal of press interest in Austria. This week one of the contestants sang a song called 'Hands Clean' which prompted the Austrian CCC to distribute a new press release in which they noted that s.Oliver's hands are not clean because of the failure to stand up for labor rights at its supply factory. So far s.Oliver has not responded to the Austrian CCCs calls to take an active role in demanding the reinstatement of the Kahatex Sweater workers. The company did commission an audit of the facility (conducted by Systain) however the audit findings have been severely criticized by the CCC. For more information (in German) on the Austrian campaign, or to send a 'friendship ticket' please see the Austrian CCC website: www.cleanclothes.at.

For more information on the PT Kahatex Sweater case and how you can pressure s.Oliver, Tom Tailor, and other brands to push for reinstatement of the Kahatex workers.

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