Over the past few months, academics, workers' rights activists and journalists have conducted an undercover investigation of 43 Gap plants, located in six countries, on three continents. Researchers investigating Gap apparel production plants have found evidence of atrocious labor rights and human rights abuses ranging from poverty wages to the physical abuse of workers. In response to the new evidence, UNITE, Gap workers and international allies are asking consumers to tell their friends and family not to buy them Gap this holiday season.
Workers in Gap contractor factories have reported abuses that are far-reaching and that demonstrate a pattern of global exploitation. Gap workers who were interviewed in Lesotho, El Salvador, Indonesia, Mexico, Cambodia and Bangladesh identified five issues as the top issues affecting them in their workplaces and homes. These main issues are: poverty wages; physical harassment and abuse in factories; poor health and safety; suppression of worker rights; and, cheating of wages.

According to the report, one Gap worker in Lesotho complained that she developed a severe respiratory illness from working in a poorly ventilated Gap factory full of lint. She said that she is not given protective gear to use.

The worker, Mahali, told researchers: "I have a problem in my chest: it aches and I cough. Sometimes the stuff comes out the same color as the fabric I am working on. Now when I cough, it comes out blue because we're working on blue track suits. There are no masks to protect us."

Union leaders in Cambodia also reported receiving severe beatings and threats for attempting to organize co-workers in Gap factories. One Gap worker was beaten with a lead pipe for organizing a strike in September, and has since resigned from his job and union post in fear for his life.

Some of the workers from Lesotho, Indonesia and El Salvador who had been interviewed for the report were present at a press conference given by UNITE on November 20 in New York City. They shared their living and working conditions with the press, and then helped kick-start the holiday campaign at a consumer education action at the Gap on 5th Avenue.



For More Info:
www.behindthelabel.org
http://www.cnn.com/2002/U...rotest.ap/
[This message was edited Sat Nov 30 22:40:12 PST 2002 by Missthundercat]

Thanx 4 the info...knew i didn't like 'em 4 some reason.
Gotta B careful who u support.
peace

The worker, Mahali, told researchers: "I have a problem in my chest: it aches and I cough. Sometimes the stuff comes out the same color as the fabric I am working on. Now when I cough, it comes out blue because we're working on blue track suits. There are no masks to protect us."


sign Number#1 you should quit your job no matter how much you need it.

yet another reason to hate the gap...besides the $35 t shirts that look no diffenent from the $6 dollar hanes undershirts(xcept 4 the label of course)

I won't buy from the Gap(i didn't anyway),but you know there are more than a few other companies doing the same thing.I would like a list of more big name companies doing this kind of shit.

I learned in my geography of developing countries class that Abercrombie and Fitch uses indentured servants. I think that is also on behindthelabel.org I refuse to buy their stuff. Its not even worth it.

shit...
and you bet' not try giving me none of that 'OLD NAVY' shit
either... STUCTURE, EXPRESS, and if you're a lil tight on
yo funds SOUTHPOLE, and i wouldn't give a shit how many of the lil migits had to work overtime for me to get it...
i didn't see nobody crying for all them ELVES santaclaus
been over workin for years for his 100% profit...
next thing you know you'll be griping about the animals that had to be put to death for my MAXY FUR PIMP COAT!!!
[This message was edited Sun Dec 1 10:06:45 PST 2002 by 00769BAD]

You can buy me GAP for christmas, along with the following below.

Abercrombie and Fitch
Old Navy
Aeropostale



Someone once called me a Yuppie!!! Yuppie I am not, shallow and egotistical I can be, but not a yuppie I just like nice clothes that is all.

00769BAD said:

Is it like a P Diddy pimp fur coat

MostBeautifulGrlNTheWorld said:

all the fiitng room attendents at those stores are perv's...!

Not to menchion hot!!! Especially the guys at the Abercrombie and Fitch I shop at

I can't lie up until my management pissed me out I would at Old Navy and The Gap especially since I had 20% and 30% being an employee and all. But now that I know what I know the hell with The Gap Inc!

as a matter of fact i'm thinking on starting my own
clothes line MACKALISIOUS WEAR
do to constraints in the financial sector, i'll be
manufacturing my line at the SOUTHERN tip of MEXICO or
TEXAS and work em til they drop, or til i get enough to move my opperation to BANKOK or VIET NAM where i'm sure they'll work alot cheaper. if the AFRICANS would stop fightin long enough, i might concider patronizing them
BUUUT!!!