As we approach the holiday shopping season, let us remember the people who make the articles we buy. The following report is a sample of how the interests of investors usually have more priority over those of the actual producers of almost all products we purchase. Workers' salaries and benefits (right here in our country as well as around the world) are squeezed to provide a greater return on investments. In most cases, this creates more wealth for those who can afford to invest while impoverishing those who provide us with our needs and wants.

HOWEVER, when you read the last paragraph, you will learn that showing our concern at the checkout counter can make a difference.

After reading the accompanying story, please consider downloading a small form to leave with the clerk for the store manager. They are available in either English or Spanish. Click here for the English Card or click here for the Spanish Card. This does not mean that you will only purchase things made in Sweat Free factories. That would be nearly impossible, since most things are made in sweatshops. What we want is for the retailers to show their concern about working conditions to their providers. Then the following story will be widespread!

Hugo Boss Does The Right Thing!
Hugo Boss is one of the world's most well-known clothing companies. The upscale apparel maker is famous for its fashions, its cologne, and especially for its pricey designer suits. For a profitable company known for its expensive wares, it was decidedly cheap with its workers!

Although the company reported record sales of over $1.57 billion and net profits of over $120 million, earlier this year, the company was refusing to fund a pension plan for its warehouse workers, and only offering a 30-cent wage increase, postponing much needed adjustments that workers desperately needed!

Workers at the Hugo Boss distribution center in Savannah, GA, worked without a contract since April. The workers, mostly African-American women, were paid an average wage of $7.63 an hour and had no retirement plan.

These are tough times for many companies, but not for Hugo Boss. In addition to its record sales, the company's share price rose more than 30% over the last year! At the same time, the cost of living in Savannah, including gas prices and everyday expenses, was rising.

Lorenzo Walker, one of the distribution employees at Hugo Boss, said, "We've got bills to pay. We've got families to feed. All we want in return is a fair wage increase and a start for our pension."

A Turn Of Events
This Christmas, the men and women employed at the Hugo Boss distribution center in Georgia have special reason to celebrate. After months of workers' tireless campaigning, and more than 11,000 letters to management at Hugo Boss from workers' rights supporters like you, the company settled with the workers' union. Their new three-year contract includes an employer-funded retirement plan, a bonus for these workers, and other improvements. Thanks for wanting to get involved in making a difference!

You Can Do Something Like This Today
You can distribute the Shopping Cards while you are out shopping this holiday season. Simply, wherever you pay for your purchases, leave a copy of the following statement for the store manager:

As a regular customer of your store, I would like to invite you to become a member of the Clean Clothes Campaign of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. As a partner in the Campaign, I request that you offer your customers a choice of clothing which is made under non-sweatshop conditions. Many consumers like me and my family are choosing sweat free clothing over conventional products because we want a guarantee that our brothers and sisters around the world receive a living wage and that their rights are respected.
Sincerely,
[Your signature.]

Click here for this statement in English

Click here for this statement in Spanish

You will make this Christmas more blessed for workers around the world!

Rosemary Huddleston, OP