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U. Texas groups protest sweatshops at Gap store

From U-Wire
Arizona Daily Wildcat,
January 8, 2000
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AUSTIN, Texas-The University of Texas Students Against Sweatshops held a rally Saturday in front of the Gap at 24th and Guadalupe streets demanding that companies end sweatshop labor and give foreign factory workers a living wage.

About 30 people attended the protest. The group said the demonstration wasn't against the Gap specifically, but instead targeted all companies that support sweatshop labor.

Although some protesters targeted customers entering or leaving the Gap, organizers said the protest wasn't a boycott.

Amanda Maystead, protester and member of UT Students Against Sweatshops, said protesters hoped to educate the public about unfair labor practices. She advised consumers to "be educated about what you're buying, and know that you can complain."

Activists have rallied against sweatshop labor on the first Saturday of every month for the past eight months. The first protest was held by the Austin Peace and Justice Coalition, which attended Saturday's rally to provide support. Also present were representatives from the UT International Socialists Organization, the Austin Living Wage Coalition, and Action for Animals.

Austin police attended the event to ensure that protesters didn't block the Gap's entrance.

Honks of encouragement were occasionally punctuated with shouts from passing motorists either supporting or condemning the rally, but protesters said they were pleased with the level of support.

"I think the support has been really good," said Ernest Samudio, protester and member of Action for Animals. "We're getting a lot of honks, people are picking up literature, and they're stopping and signing the petition."

But observers had mixed feelings about the protest.

Donna Whitlow, a jewelry vendor who set up shop adjacent to the protest, said she respected the protesters for standing up for their beliefs, but that she doesn't know what they hope to accomplish.

"I just don't think it really does any good," Whitlow said. "I don't know what would, though."

Cindy McDermid, a Gap customer, said while the rally didn't dissuade her from shopping at the Gap on Saturday, the protesters made her more aware about unfair labor practices.

According to Gap Inc., the factories under contract to produce its clothing are required to abide by a "Code of Vendor Conduct." The code sets guidelines for the company when dealing with discrimination, forced labor, environmental concerns, working conditions, child labor, wages and hours, union and collective bargaining rights and employee housing.

Gap Inc. released a statement saying that noncompliance with the code won't be tolerated.

"If factories don't share our commitment to maintaining safe conditions and treating workers fairly, we'll quit doing business with them altogether," the company said.

But Maystead said she doubts the veracity of this claim.

"The problem is, if (the Code of Vendor Conduct is) posted in a factory at all, it's in English, not the native language of the workers," Maystead said.


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