From: Kenneth Alan Miller (pgh_iww_iu450@yahoo.com)
Date: Thu Aug 01 2002 - 18:10:34 EDT
Pitch aimed at merchandise sweatshopsBy DON WALKER
of the Journal Sentinel staffLast Updated: Aug. 1, 2002
A worldwide union has launched a campaign in Milwaukee and Pittsburgh to draw attention to the sale of Major League Baseball merchandise they say is manufactured in sweatshop conditions.
Surprisingly, the Major League Baseball Players Association, considered to be the most powerful union in this country, has been silent on the issue.
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), a left-wing union dedicated to winning better working conditions around the world, has targeted the Milwaukee Brewers and the Pittsburgh Pirates in its campaign, with hopes of taking the issue to the rest of the league.
In a letter to Wendy Selig-Prieb, president and CEO of the Brewers, the group asked that she sign a "Sweat-Free Baseball Code of Conduct" on behalf of the Brewers.
"We hope you will take this opportunity to commit the Milwaukee Brewers to support human rights and dignity, stop and expose oppressive working conditions and labor abuses, and extend justice and the principles of fair play and freedom to workers on the globe," the letter states.
The IWW says many baseball caps, baseballs and other clothing apparel are made by workers around the globe in sweatshop conditions. The union alleges that the majority of the global sweatshop work force makes less than $2 a day. In one case, the IWW said young women in Bangladesh work for 8 cents an hour making baseball merchandise.
The revenue from the sale of licensed merchandise goes to a central fund operated by Major League Baseball. That revenue, in turn, is distributed equally to the 30 clubs.
Laurel Prieb, vice president of business operations for the Brewers, said the Brewers had received the IWW letter and sent it along to Major League Baseball for review.
Alexis Buss, IWW's general secretary-treasurer, said the IWW had sent letters to the player's union but acknowledged she had not heard back from them.
"My guess is that they have other issues," she said, referring to the union's talks with Major League Baseball on a new collective bargaining agreement. "We haven't ruled them out. But we appreciate they have their attention on the labor talks."
A spokesman for the union had no immediate comment but said the union planned to look into the matter.
Buss said the IWW was testing its campaign in the two National League cities and planned to expand it in the fall.
The group is also asking Brewers fans to pressure the team to stop selling merchandise that is produced under sweatshop conditions; to stop selling merchandise made by workers on strike; and to "ensure the public disclosure of factory locations where Brewers merchandise is produced.
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