Transnational Corporations

As we discussed in class, monetary gain can sometimes cause people to abandon their values and their morals.

Today we are going to continue to investigate the pros and cons of economic globalization by looking specifically at the impact of Transnational Corporations in the world.

Understanding the Labour behind the Label
To start:
1. Find a partner - with your partner find 5 items that you brought to school or wore to school. On these items you should find a CA Registration number (looks like CA28885). CA numbers are registration numbers for all products coming into Canada.
- Fill in the sheet that your substitute teacher will hand out

2. Go to the following website and type in the 5 CA numbers that you have found in the activity above. Fill your sheet in stating where your clothing was made. http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/app/cb/cnmbr/srchFrm.do;jsessionid=0000w61znSBgwby339lPAo1MPpv:1247mv5k6?lang=eng

3. Go to the Maquila Solidarity website "http://en.maquilasolidarity.org/issues/ca/bycompany". The Maquila Solidarity Organization evaluates corporations on their treatment of workers throughout the world. If you type in your company, information about that company and human rights issues will come up. Some companies have issues while others do not. Fill in your chart.


On Wednesday, we investigated Disney and their use of sweatshops in Haiti. I asked you to think about what you could do as an individual to pressure transnational corporations to stop using sweatshops... now it is time to find other case studies to help strengthen your understanding!

Find ONE transnational corporation who has been accused of implementing sweatshop labour (sample list below). Fill out the information on the sheet provided in class.

Apple
Walmart
Nike
Gap
Hollister
Mattel
Calvin Klein
Reebox
Old Navy


I've included below a list of websites that will be useful for you when you begin looking at what you can do as an individual to pressure transnationals into ceasing their use of sweatshop labour.

Organizations:
Behind the Label
http://www.behindthelabel.org/

Global Exchange
www.globalexchange.org

Campaign for Labor Rights
www.campaignforlaborrights.org 202-544-9355

Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras
www.Coalitionforjustice.net 210-732-8957

Co-op America
www.coopamerica.org 800-58-GREEN

International Labor Rights Fund
www.laborrights.org 202-347-4100

Maquila Solidarity Network
www.maquilasolidarity.org 416-532-8584

National Labor Committee
www.nlcnet.org 212-242-3002

Sweatshop Watch
www.sweatshopwatch.org 213-748-5945

SweatFree Communities
www.sweatfree.org 207-262-7277

UNITE HERE
www.unitehere.org 212-265-7000

United Students Against Sweatshops
www.usasnet.org 202-no-sweat

United Students For Fair Trade
http://www.usft.org/

U.S. Labor Education in the Americas Project
www.usleap.org 773-262-6502

Workers Rights Consortium
www.workersrights.org 202-387-4884