Mind The Gaps!

Following a campaign of actions in the US against high street clothing store GAP, Jan 20th saw actions against the chain across the UK. These highlighted concerns about low pay, exploitation and abysmal working conditions rife in the rag trade around the world.

Sheffield

In Sheffield people are taking action against a new Gap store due to open on March 2nd . The ‘No Sweat’ campaign has beens highlighting Gap’s appalling treatment and low pay of its workers in the Third World by leafleting outside the new store.

On Thursday Jan 25th ‘SHAG’ (Sheffield Against Gap) spent the day in freezing conditions outside the Sheffield Novotel where Gap was having it’s recruitment day for the new store. A stall was set up outside with a banner marked “Gap-Information point”. Almost all of the prospective employees went straight to the stall and were told the truth about Gap. Whilst some people really didn’t care, most listened intently and quite a few were so shocked they decided not to bother.

Contact sheffieldmayday@disinfo.net www.sheffieldmayday.ukf.net

Birmingham

When picketers arrived at their local Gap store, they found police already waiting

with extra Gap security and a Gap UK rep. 1000 leaflets were distributed while a sound system entertained shoppers. Local kids joined in and a riot van turned up to see the fun.

A phone call was received before the action from a US rep enquiring about the press release and what the leaflets would say. News travels fast!

Contact Birmingham S26 Collective 07980 41557, s26brum@hotmail.com

Bristol

150 people in Bristol blockaded GAP in Broadmead protesting at child and sweatshop labour revealed in a recent BBC Panorama programme. Placards read ‘GAP-Globally Abusing People’ and ‘GAP rips off child labour and sweat shop labour’. The protest grew as local shop workers on lunch breaks and teenagers joined in and passers-by queued to sign petitions. One woman, feeling guilty after having bought a GAP bodywarmer for £55 was reminded that she hadn’t benefited from the exploitation but had been ripped off as the mark-up on some GAP clothes is 400%.

For more information about Gap www.gapsucks.org

Workers issues and the textile trade more generally: Labour behind the Label 38 Exchange St, Norwich, NR2 1AX

A monthly round-up of ecological and other direct action from around Britain

The philosophy behind Earth First! is the use of non-heirarchical organisation and direct action to confront, stop and eventually reverse the forces responsible for the destruction of the Earth and it’s inhabitants.

It is not a cohesive group or campaign rather a meeting point for those interested in these ideas.