For many this is NOT the season to be jolly. Those working in a sweatshop where low pay, no
benefits, and long hours are the norm for those who work under sweatshop conditions. If there is
ever a season to be conscious of their plight, it is this season when many will be celebrating
Christmas, Hanukkah or Ramadan. Being an ethical shopper, buying items that are not made in
sweatshop conditions, might be one of the best gifts of solidarity we can offer.

Ethical shopping would be a lot easier if retailers were required to provide information on where
and by whom their clothes are made, or if there was a recognizable label indicating which clothes
are produced under humane conditions. But don’t wait until such a system is in place; you can
make an impact this season by simply asking the right questions. When you shop, ask the store
clerk, or better yet, ask the store manager the following:

ACTION 1 - Shopping Questions

• How does your company guarantee your clothes are produced under humane conditions?
• Can I get a list of the names and addresses of the contractors and subcontractors that produce your clothes?
• Do you have a code of conduct? Can I have a copy?
• How do you monitor whether your contractors adhere to your code of conduct? What do you do when you discover violations?
• If they can’t answer your questions, and chances are they can’t, ask for the name and phone number of someone you can call for the information. Then phone them and spread the word!

Justice work need not be all gloom and doom. We need to find ways to keep our sprits bright for
the long haul work that it is. What might this be? Try singing. As you join others of your friends
for pre-holiday parties, here are a few alternative Carols you might use for a sing-along to raise
their awareness about such shopping favorites as GAP or KOHLS Department Stores.

For more such Carols click onto: www.maquilasolidarity.org/tools/campaign/carols.htm

We Wish You a Merry Christmas
  We Wish You a Merry Christmas
  We wish you a Merry Christmas;
  We wish you a Merry Christmas;
  We wish you a Merry Christmas
  and a Happy New Year.

  Garment workers to you
  wherever you are;
  Good tidings for Christmas
  and a Happy New Year.

  Oh bring them some decent wages;
  Oh bring them some decent wages;
  Oh bring them some decent wages;
  and a sweatshop free year.

  Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
  You better watch out,
  you better not cry,
  better not raise
  those prices too high.
  Santa Claus is coming to town.

  He’s making a list
  and checking it twice,
  gonna find out
  who’s naughty and nice,
  Santa Claus is coming to town.

  He sees you when you’re scheming,
  he knows what your workers make.
  He knows when you’ve
  been bad or good,
  so be good for goodness sake.

  Oh, you better watch out,
  you better not cry,
  better not raise
  those prices too high.
  Santa Claus is coming to town.

Slaving in a Sweatshop Wonderland
(Sang to the tune of “Walking in a Winter Wonderland”)

Door bell rings, are you listening?
On your brow, sweat is glistening.
You’re working tonight; it just isn’t right,
slaving in a Sweatshop Wonderland.

Gone away are the good jobs
Here today are the sweatshops
They want you to sew
seven days in a row
slaving in a Sweatshop Wonderland.

In ___________(name of your city), GAP has used sweatshops
and they’ve paid the lowest rates in town.
Ask about a union, they’ll say no ma’am.
Homeworkers do the job for the poorest pay around.

Later on, they’ll conspire
how to raise prices higher
The plans that they’ve made
won’t make us better paid
Slaving in a Sweatshop Wonderland

Door bell rings, are you listening?
On your brow, seat is glistening.
You’re working tonight; it just isn’t right,
slaving in a Sweatshop Wonderland.