Walmart's Inaction Leads to Death in Bangledesh
Last week, Bangladeshi labor activist Aminul Islam was murdered for his trade union activism. The targeted and intentional killing of Islam in the export garment industry is a reminder to all of us about the deadly lengths that the 1% who oppose workers' rights are willing to go. Apparel brands and retailers such as Walmart, Tommy Hilfiger, Gap, and H&M continue to make huge profits on the backs of impoverished workers of Bangladesh and other Asian countries – and turn a blind eye to the poverty, suffering, and deaths among the very people who produce for them.
Islam’s assassination is an escalation of the violence and indignity already heaped upon workers and organizers in the garment industry. In 2010, Mr. Islam, a former textile factory worker, was arrested along with other colleagues of his and interrogated and tortured by the police and intelligence services. In May of 2011, Jobs with Justice supporters signed a petition to save the lives of Islam among others for this very reason--
asking Walmart to tell its suppliers that have instigated false charges against labor leaders that those charges must be dropped; that the officers responsible for torturing these individuals must be held accountable; and that labor rights defenders like the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity must be allowed to operate freely.These recent actions only emphasize the deep need to keep the pressure on Walmart, starting with demanding that they meet with their own workers.
Sign the petition in solidarity.
