It’s come to this.
You’d think that when a major corporation is exposed as using suppliers who engage in human trafficking, they might be prepared for a major outcry. You’d think that they’d hear from an outraged public. You’d think that their PR apparatus would be in full swing. Guess not.
The NYT published an article today entitled An Ugly Side of Free Trade: Sweatshops in Jordan by STEVEN GREENHOUSE and MICHAEL BARBARO. The described treatment of workers was beyond outrageous.
The article listed several companies that do business with these suppliers. Wal-Mart – no surprise there. I don’t ever shop at smiley-face place. Target. Ooops. Well I couldn’t let that pass. So I went to their website and searched around until I found the Contact Us form and asked them to use their purchasing power to force their suppliers to stop the abuse.
Also listed was Jones Apparel. When I’m feeling flush I have been known to buy their products as well. I went their website. No apparent way to contact them by email. I called their corporate headquarters. (215 785 4000). I got transferred seven times and then got to leave a voice mail with for someone who was allegedly the CFO.
It is bad enough that workers are having their passports stolen, are being cheated out of the pittance they’ve been promised for working 16 hours a day and are being denied medical care. What seems even more appalling to me is that the report of such practices doesn’t seem to create the tiniest ripple with the American public or with our corporate citizens.
I know we are all bombarded with issues and actions, but please a minute to contact Target, Jones or the other corporations mentioned in the article. Please don’t let this be business as usual.