Santa: Walmart, Toymakers still on Naughty List

December 2006

Back in 2002, Santa Claus told Kansas Workbeat that he had put Wal-mart and lots of toymakers on his naughty list.

Santa dropped us a line just the other day:

When I looked over my lists this year, I was pleased to see that most boys and girls had been nice in 2006. I wish I could say the same thing about the companies.

I am still ticked off at companies who take advantage of the holiday season to sell goods made in sweatshops. I want to tell Walmart again to treat its workers right and quit their union-busting ways.

 I’m glad the the National Labor Committee,is calling attention to the Bratz dolls.  Why I think more girls are asking for them than for Barbie’s this year. Bratz dolls are made in a sweatshop in China, where women are routinely forced to work seven days and 94 ½ hours a week, for wages of just 51 ½ cents an hour, $4.13 a day.

Workers in China are paid just 17 cents for each doll they assemble, and the total cost to produce the doll is $3.01. When the Bratz dolls enter the U.S., the companies mark the price up by 428 percent—another $12.88—and retail the dolls for at least $15.89.

SANTA PUTS WALMART, TOYMAKERS ON HIS NAUGHTY LIST

(originally published 2002)

Kansas Workbeat: We were surprised to see you at the Wichita Action for Justice @ Walmart on November 29. We thought this was your busy season, so we didn’t sent you an invitation to attend.

Santa: Well, our gift operation has actually become more efficient since the elfs, gnomes, and helpers unionized. If I don’t have the naughty and nice lists completed before Thanksgiving, there’s no chance we’ll get everything delivered before December 26. 

When I looked over my lists this year, I was pleased to see that most boys and girls had been nice in 2002. I wish I could say the same thing about the companies.

I am really getting ticked off at companies who take advantage of the holiday season to sell goods made in sweatshops. And I’m here to tell Walmart to treat its workers right and quit their union-busting ways.

Kansas Workbeat: Is this social concern something new? Most people think you just want boys and girls to be nice

Santa: Some people call me a do-gooder, but I’ve always been concerned about social injustice. Open any history book and you’ll find out that I got my start about 1500 years ago in Asia Minor giving dowries to young women who were too poor to get married. So when I learned that Walmart is selling toys made by young women in China who have to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week, exposed to toxic chemicals, and who are paid poverty wages, I just had to do something.

Kansas Workbeat: What should parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles do? 

Santa: First, you can sign a petition against sweatshop labor. Second, you can shop with a conscience. Look for alternatives gifts. Think about what your child will really want to play with, not just what advertising makes look good. Talk to the store manager about your concerns. Leave “I Care” cards. Lots of teenagers are saying “Don’t Buy Me GAP” because of their miserable sweatshop policies.

Santa Claus Signs Petition Against Sweatshop Labor

Kansas Workbeat: Anything else?

Santa: You’re a good union guy, arent’ you? Take another look at your union “Do Buy” list. And you’ve got a good list of union-related gifts on your website. And, in the last contract, the IBEG (International Brotherhood of Elves and Gnomes) negotiated that in all of my internet appearnaces, I should mention their list of on-line union retail outlets.

By the way, that’s how you can tell whether you’re talking to a mall Santa or the real Santa, namely me. Ask if the elve’s are unionized.

Local 2004, I.B.E.G.   Brothers and Sisters (and cousins too)-- Below is our first annual list of online union retail outlets. With your support, next year's list will be longer.   Nosweatapparel.com Check out the new No Sweat line of 100% union made casual apparel. Designing Ts, fashion athletic wear, sweats, hoodies, denim jackets, scarves and boucle caps. A little something for every labor lover on your list. SWEAT X L.A.s first union cut and sew shop, SweatX, opened this year. They primarily sell wholesale T-shirts but have a few retail items available on line. NATCHEZ BOOTS This link will take you to Natchezs's on-line storefront providing Matterhorn's famous union made hiking and hunting boots. Enduring quality and values. DIAMOND CUT JEANS Will the last union made jeans in America please stand up? Top quality, durable denim jeans for men, women and children. All cotton, all union. EXCELLED SHEEPSKIN & LEATHER At Excelled Sheepskin & Leather 1700 Burlington Ave., you'll find beautiful, sturdy and stylish leather coats, jackets, vests and pants, reasonably priced and all union made. Bread&Roses 2003 Social Justice calendar. Looking for a little inspiration for the year to come? You'll find l2 months of it in the Bread and Roses 2003 Social Justice calendar. We took l2 great quotes, from the Prophet Amos to the novelist Toni Morrison, and asked some great contemporary artists to interpret them. Profits from the calendar go directly into arts programming for working people across the country... Created in partnership with SEIU Greenhouse Cultural Program, our Social Justice 2003 Calendar is for anyone in need of a little point of light in the year to come. The calendar is available online today. UNION THREADS This excellent site provides union made decorated work wear. Their appliqués are great. REDWING BOOTS You can buy Redwings "the boot that built America" on line at their site. Rugged, comfortable and stylish-- and union made. POWELLS BOOKShttp://www.powells.com The legendary independent book store with the all union work force. Would this list be complete without it?

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