Union assails uniform sweatshops

In the wake of a report revealing that school uniforms are made in abusive overseas sweatshops, the New York State United Teachers - a union representing teachers and health care workers - has taken a firm stance against this racket.

The report revealed that uniforms sold at Wal-Mart under the Faded Glory brand are made at sweatshops in Bangladesh that dish out beatings to workers and pay them less than Bangladesh's minimum wage. This is a significant problem because an increasing number of American schools (even public schools) are requiring uniforms and forcing students to buy this brand.

Since the report came out 2 months ago, however, the media has almost completely swept it under the rug (because it doesn't fit the media's agenda). The only regular news outlet where I've seen it mentioned has been BusinessWeek.

But the NYSUT and the Labor-Religion Coalition are trying to cut through this blackout. The groups are trying to raise awareness so families and schools don't "unwittingly support sweat labor."

Unfortunately, many schools don't place much value on ending labor exploitation. What do you think all this bullshit from schools about "preparing students for the global marketplace" means anyway? It's a code phrase for molding students into cheap, docile labor.

With the American school system hell-bent on serving a corporatist model, much of the work in fighting school uniforms falls on students, parents, teachers, labor leaders, me, and you. Let's make sure the issue of uniform sweatshops gets the coverage the media has so far denied it.

(Source: http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/newyorkteacher_11613.htm)