Mobilize for Bangladeshi Workers: Twitterstorm the Solstice, Join the Soho Funeral Procession

Here in the heart of the global fashion industry, 99 Pickets is mobilizing to fight for protections for Bangladeshi factory workers. After the tragic deaths of over 1,200 workers in Bangladesh factory fires and building collapses, they are calling for U.S. retailers to take responsibility for the conditions at factories that produce their clothing. A groundbreaking agreement, the “Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh”, will take meaningful steps towards this goal.

The Accord, a new agreement between several global union federations and 40 prominent apparel and retail companies, requires companies to participate in and fund a program of independent safety inspections, remediation, and worker safety trainings with the involvement of trade unions. H&M and other European corporations have signed, but most U.S. companies have not.

The time for individual and ineffective “corporate social responsibility” programs is long over. The legally binding, multi-stakeholder Accord is the kind of framework that is much more likely to result in safer factories and better jobs for garment workers.

It's time to tell Gap, Banana Republic, North Face, Timberland, American Eagle, Target, Sears, Old Navy, and Walmart: "Stop the bloodshed. Sign the Accord!"

Twitterstorm on the Solstice

Today, the summer solistice, 99 Pickets is calling for a twitterstorm against Athleta. Athleta is a yoga wear company owned by Gap Inc. While Athleta opens retail stores selling high-end yoga clothes around the country, dangerous yet preventable conditions persist at the Bangladesh factories where Gap Inc. clothing is made.

This Friday, Athleta is sponsoring “Solstice in Times Square: Athleta Mind Over Madness Yoga” in NYC, inviting customers to “find tranquility and transcendence” in the midst of Times Square, and encourages everyone to “enter our SEIZE THE SOLSTICE Instagram Contest… for a chance to win an Athleta gift card”.

With your help, 99 Pickets can change the conversation around Athleta’s #seizethesolstice event and urge Athleta to follow the lead of H&M, Joe Fresh, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Zara, Primark and 40 other apparel and retail companies that have signed the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh.

Participating in a Twitter Storm is easy! Just sign in to Twitter (on your cell phone or computer). Then chime in to the conversation and add your voice to the rallying cry for corporate responsibility. Make sure you include #seizethesolstice in your tweet! Sample tweets are available on the 99 Pickets website.

Funeral Procession in Soho for Bangladeshi Garment Workers

On Saturday, June 29th, 99 Pickets continues their campaign for Bangladeshi workers with a mass funeral march in Soho to call out the U.S. retailers that haven't signed the accord.

The funeral procession will be joined by Desis Rising Up & Moving (DRUM), United Students Against Sweatshops, NYNJRJB Workers United, the YaYa Network, Student Labor Action Movement, the United Auto Workers and the Rude Mechanical Orchestra.

WHAT: Mass Funeral Procession in Soho for Bangladeshi Garment Workers

WHEN: Saturday, June 29 at 1pm

WHERE: Petrosino Square, near Spring St. & Lafayette St. in Manhattan.

Map: http://goo.gl/maps/9uwY1

*Dress for mourning*

We’ll let SoHo shoppers know about these corporations’ murderous inaction.

For more info, go to http://99pickets.org/campaigns/bangladesh

Infographic about the Accord