Buy union-made.
Many people lament the difficulty in finding union-made products, especially clothing and toys. It\'s not easy, but it can be done. See below for resources.
Shop locally.
By buying products made and sold locally, you support your local economy. And you help the earth because those products don\'t have to be shipped long distances, requiring more energy and creating more pollution.
Shop fair trade.
More and more fair trade products – from coffee to clothing – are available in many retail outlets. Look for the "Fair Trade Certified" label. Find out more at http://transfairusa.org/
Resources
Shop for union-made clothing at these websites:
Union House
www.unionhouse.com 651-462-7710
This Minnesota-based company has union made clothing - from underwear to jackets and everything in between. Shop now and all throughout the year!
All American Clothing
www.allamericanclothing.com/index.php
Justice Clothing
www.justiceclothing.com
No Sweat Apparel
www.nosweatapparel.com
More union-made products and services
Northland Poster Collective
Northland sells posters, t-shirts, cards, calendars and many other products at their Minneapolis store and on line at www.northlandposter.com Check out their great selection of items. In December, their store at 1613 E. Lake St. will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
The national AFL-CIO has union-made products available through its "Union Shop," https://unionshop.aflcio.org/index.cfm
Information about union-made products can also be found at www.unionlabel.org
The St. Paul Trades & Labor Assembly has compiled a list of Twin Cities union businesses. Visit www.stpaulunions.org/union_products/union_products_services.htm
Did you know the workers at many Snyders Drug Stores are members of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union? See the Assembly list for store locations.
Consider a gift certificate for a union restaurant or a union grocery. See the Assembly list for more information.
Books and videos
Instead of patronizing non-union Amazon.com, shop at www.powells.com, the Portland, Ore., bookstore where staff are represented by the International Longshore Workers Union.
Fair trade products
The chain of 10,000 Villages stores sells fair trade products that benefit local communities in other countries. In Minnesota, stores are located in St. Paul, Hugo and Mountain Lake. Many products also can be ordered on line. For more information, visit www.tenthousandvillages.com
We all pay for Wal-Mart\'s low prices.
The world\'s largest retailer has been a leader in trying to drive down wages and benefits and violate worker rights. Now www.walmartwatch.org says the company also is the top importer of dangerous toys from China.
Wal-Mart could use its massive economic clout to improve standards, but so far it hasn\'t, the website notes.
"In today\'s retail-driven economy, it is no secret that Wal-Mart is the standard-bearer. When Wal-Mart leads, other retailers are often forced to follow, or go out of business. Wal-Mart could easily use their power to push manufacturers into increasing their product safety regulations, and move the retail industry in a responsible direction. Instead, they continually demand price cuts - forcing desperate manufacturers to churn out products without adequate inspection. We hope that the American consumer has finally had enough."
For more on why many working people don\'t shop at Wal-Mart, go to www.walmartwatch.org and www.wakeupwalmart.org
Have a suggestion for a good product or place to shop this holiday season? E-mail the Workday editor.
Share
Buy union-made.
Many people lament the difficulty in finding union-made products, especially clothing and toys. It\’s not easy, but it can be done. See below for resources.
Shop locally.
By buying products made and sold locally, you support your local economy. And you help the earth because those products don\’t have to be shipped long distances, requiring more energy and creating more pollution.
Shop fair trade.
More and more fair trade products – from coffee to clothing – are available in many retail outlets. Look for the "Fair Trade Certified" label. Find out more at http://transfairusa.org/
Resources
Shop for union-made clothing at these websites:
Union House
www.unionhouse.com 651-462-7710
This Minnesota-based company has union made clothing – from underwear to jackets and everything in between. Shop now and all throughout the year!
All American Clothing
www.allamericanclothing.com/index.php
Justice Clothing
www.justiceclothing.com
No Sweat Apparel
www.nosweatapparel.com
More union-made products and services
Northland Poster Collective
Northland sells posters, t-shirts, cards, calendars and many other products at their Minneapolis store and on line at www.northlandposter.com Check out their great selection of items. In December, their store at 1613 E. Lake St. will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
The national AFL-CIO has union-made products available through its "Union Shop," https://unionshop.aflcio.org/index.cfm
Information about union-made products can also be found at www.unionlabel.org
The St. Paul Trades & Labor Assembly has compiled a list of Twin Cities union businesses. Visit www.stpaulunions.org/union_products/union_products_services.htm
Did you know the workers at many Snyders Drug Stores are members of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union? See the Assembly list for store locations.
Consider a gift certificate for a union restaurant or a union grocery. See the Assembly list for more information.
Books and videos
Instead of patronizing non-union Amazon.com, shop at www.powells.com, the Portland, Ore., bookstore where staff are represented by the International Longshore Workers Union.
Fair trade products
The chain of 10,000 Villages stores sells fair trade products that benefit local communities in other countries. In Minnesota, stores are located in St. Paul, Hugo and Mountain Lake. Many products also can be ordered on line. For more information, visit www.tenthousandvillages.com
We all pay for Wal-Mart\’s low prices.
The world\’s largest retailer has been a leader in trying to drive down wages and benefits and violate worker rights. Now www.walmartwatch.org says the company also is the top importer of dangerous toys from China.
Wal-Mart could use its massive economic clout to improve standards, but so far it hasn\’t, the website notes.
"In today\’s retail-driven economy, it is no secret that Wal-Mart is the standard-bearer. When Wal-Mart leads, other retailers are often forced to follow, or go out of business. Wal-Mart could easily use their power to push manufacturers into increasing their product safety regulations, and move the retail industry in a responsible direction. Instead, they continually demand price cuts – forcing desperate manufacturers to churn out products without adequate inspection. We hope that the American consumer has finally had enough."
For more on why many working people don\’t shop at Wal-Mart, go to www.walmartwatch.org and www.wakeupwalmart.org
Have a suggestion for a good product or place to shop this holiday season? E-mail the Workday editor.