[act-ma] Hold Walmart Accountable on MLK Day

[Russ Davis]

MASSACHUSETTS
	
	

*Massachusetts Remembers Bangladesh Workers Who Have Fallen to Corporate 
Greed*

Please join us in a candlelight vigil on Martin Luther King Day, January 
21st, to remember those who have paid the ultimate price for Walmart, 
GAP and H&M’s greed.  But these vigils are only a first step -- you are 
also invited to meet on January 23rd to craft a campaign to put pressure 
on Walmart, GAP and H&M to commit to fire safety in Bangladesh.

*Bangladesh*



Roksana, 20 (left), a survivor of a garment factory fire, sits in her 
house in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

On November 24th, 112 workers were killed when a preventable fire ripped 
through their factory while they were producing garments for Walmart. As 
reported by Bloomberg Press, Walmart executive Sridevi Kalavakolanu and 
his GAP counter part were asked in 2011 by the Bangladesh government and 
Bangladesh labor activists to spend a little more money on goods, so 
fire safety could be made possible. This was Kalavakolanu’s reply:

“Specifically to the issue of any corrections on electrical and fire 
safety, we are talking about 4,500 factories, and in most cases very 
extensive and costly modifications would need to be undertaken to some 
factories. It is not financially feasible for the brands to make such 
investments.”

Walmart, the 25th largest economy in the world, GAP and H&M, are still 
refusing to pay for their sweatshops to not be tinder boxes. We are 
demanding that these companies sign onto a comprehensive fire safety 
program in Bangladesh.  Reverend King gave his life while fighting for 
workers rights lets commemorate him by fighting for workers lives.

*Candle Light Vigil*
What: Candlelight Vigil to Remember Walmart, GAP and H&M’s Fallen Workers.
When: January 21st, 5-6pm.
Where: There will be four simultaneous vigils:

*Location 1: Walmart*
301 Falls Boulevard,
Quincy, MA
Contact Person: Edwin Arguetta: 617-335-9501

*Location 2 : Walmart*
780 Lynnway,
Lynn, MA
Contact Person: Paul Drake 617-650-4457

*Location 3: GAP*
Harvard Square
15 Brattle St
Cambridge, MA
Contact Person: James Razsa 207-838-4703

*Location 4: H&M*
350 Washington St
(between Ordway Pl & Bromfield St)
Boston, MA
Contact Person: Gillian Mason 617-470-7409

*Campaign Planning Meeting*
What:  Meeting to plan how we can put pressure on Walmart, GAP and H&M 
to commit to fire safety in their Bangladesh factories.
When: January 23rd, 11am.
Where: SEIU 1199, 2nd Floor,
150 Mount Vernon St.  Dorchester, MA (2 blocks from Red line T stop 
JFK/UMass)

----

If you have any questions about the upcoming actions or this campaign, 
please contact James at james at massuniting.org or call 617-524-8778.

	
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