In the struggle against sweatshops and the exploitation of labor in poor countries, highlighting abuses and organizing campaigns against them is only the first part of the process. Once a campaign convinces a corporation to do the right thing, it is just as vital that such companies be rewarded with good press and promotion of their products over their competitors. Too many anti-sweatshop activists only emphasize the "stick" side of the equation, ignoring the requisite "carrot" side of it. When a company is pushed to do the right thing we must show them that their concessions provide a tangible reward.

The story of Canada-based Gildan Activewear - http://www.gildan.com - is an example of a company that was convinced, through a very comprehensive global campaign, to adopt worker friendly policies in its Latin American production facilities and deserves recognition for doing so.

Gildan is the largest producer of tee-shirts in North America in direct competition with Hanes and Fruit of the Loom. In 2003 and 2004, Gildan was shown to be directly linked to sweatshop abuses in Honduras and Nicaragua. This led to an immediate campaign spearheaded in North America by the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) and the Maquila Solidarity Network (MSN). In 2005 Gildan entered into an agreement with the Maquila Solidarity Network and its workers in Latin America to remedy many of the primary abuses, becoming the first - and only - North American clothing manfucturer to do so. For more:

Gildan Agrees to Do the Right Things: MSN Suspends Campaign

Gildan Activewear of Montreal agrees to clean up its act, FINALLY!

Co-op America Quarterly: T-shirt Company Makes Reforms

Victory at Nicotex!

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre: Gildan Activewear

Therefore, it is with a clean conscience that we offer our tee-shirts in support of the Bolivarian Revolution and President Chavez on Gildan tee-shirts. While of course this is not ideal - tee-shirts by small businesses instead of multinational conglomerates would be better - realistically this is about the best we can offer while providing the product at a reasonable price for U.S. residents. Further, by rewarding companies like Gildan, we encourage other multinational corporations to follow in their footsteps in providing tangible improvements for their workers in Latin America.