Let's Protect Workers

Protecting Dogs and Cats and Workers

In the year 2000, a major clothing company began importing coats made with the fur of dogs and cats for sale in the U.S. marketplace. When the public found out this was happening, they understandably went ballistic. They demanded justice. Congress immediately went to work and developed legislation that stated you cannot exploit dogs and cats in this way and expect to sell your products in our country. This bill called the Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000 sailed through Congress and was quickly signed into law. (View this bill and see how your legislators voted here: www.uswrr.org)

Rapid Response is now calling on Congress to offer the same protections to children and other abused workers across the globe that they have afforded dogs and cats.

A number of legislators have joined the fight. We have joined together to fight for passage of the “Decent Working Conditions and Fair Competition Act,” also known as “The Anti-Sweatshop Bill.” We began fighting for this bill late last year and by the end of the last Congress, there were 61 sponsors or cosponsors in the House and six in the Senate thanks to the work of Rapid Response Teams across the country. The bill has now been introduced once again in the new 110th Congress (HR 1992 and S 367), and we are continuing the battle.

The Anti-Sweatshop Bill:

• Bans goods made by children from entering our country
• Bans sweatshop goods from entering our country
• Creates an incentive for businesses abroad to clean up their act
• Is based off established law: Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000
• Allows shareholders and competitors to file suit in federal court for enforcement

Rapid Response is gearing up for a major national action on HR 1992 and S 367. It is time we took the offensive to demand justice in the global economy, and this is our opportunity. Be ready in the coming days to join this fight for fairness.

USW Rapid Response (412) 562-2291 http://www.uswrr.org