Ralph Lauren producing in Burma

[clr2@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Labor Alerts/Labor News
a service of Campaign for Labor Rights
1247 "E" Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
clr@xxxxxxxxxxx   (541) 344-5410   http://www.compugraph.com/clr

[We are forwarding this alert sent out on June 13 by the NATIONAL LABOR
COMMITTEE, 275 7th Ave., New York, NY 10001, Phone:  212-242-3002, Fax:
212-242-3821]

URGENT ACTION ALERT/BURMA

RALPH LAUREN AND WARNACO WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH BRUTAL DICTATORS IN BURMA
U.S. Apparel Imports from Burma Increase as Repression Escalates

Ralph Lauren's Chaps men's shirts and casual shorts (which the National
Labor Committee purchased in Sterns) are being made under martial law in
Burma.  Garment workers are paid just 6 cents an hour in a booming export
assembly industry which is controlled by, and directly funds, the vicious
Burmese military regime.

In fact, Ralph Lauren, Warnaco, J. Crew, Lee, Arrow Shirts, Leslie Fay and
other U.S. apparel companies and retailers, including Stern's, J.C. Penney
and Sears, were increasing their production in Burma throughout 1996 -- just
as President Clinton announced that as a result of "a constant and
continuing pattern of severe repression by the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC) in Burma," he was compelled to impose a ban on
all new investments there.  In February 1997, the U.S. State Department
reported that under the military dictatorship in Burma, "severe repression
of human rights increased during 1996...including extrajudicial
killings...rape...disappearances...arbitrary arrests...and physical abuse."
President Clinton also linked the military regime in Burma to narco-trafficking.

The Democratic forces in Burma are requesting international economic
sanctions until the military is forced to relinquish its dictatorial grip
over the lives of Burma's 47 million people.

Increases in U.S. apparel imports from Burma directly follow this rise in
repression.  In 1996, U.S. apparel imports from Burma surged 38 percent,
totaling $89.7 million -- a $24.6 million increase over the $65.l million
reported in 1995.  Between 1992 and 1996, Burma's apparel exports to the
U.S. increased 330 percent.  In 1996, U.S. apparel companies imported 18
million garments made in Burma.

These imports continue to soar.  The first two months of 1997 saw a 50.3
percent increse over the year before.  These garments were being sewn in
December 1996 at the very moment when "the military regime suppressed
protesters in a bloody crackdown.  Tanks remain on the streets..."
(Economist Intelligence Unit, April 29, 1997).

It is appropriate to ask:  Why is it that the U.S. apparel industry is
always on the wrong side?  Why should the U.S. people allow these companies
to turn the U.S. into a dumping ground for these sweatshops controlled by
the Burmese military and drug lords?  In fact, U.S. companies take in a full
65 percent of Burma's worldwide apparel exports.

According to the Economic Intelligence Unit, "Myanmar has sought to position
itself as a destination for foreign garment manufacturers..."  The U.S.
companies like what they see.  "According to foreign investors...among the
top attractions of the country (is the) low cost labour force."  (EIU, May
l, 1997).  Apparently, the fact that the workers are totally stripped of
their rights under martial law is also attractive to the U.S. companies
contracting there.

Ralph Lauren Stands to Pocket More than $489 Million

At this time, as Ralph Lauren company stocks are being offered for sale --
which could earn Ralph Lauren himself over $489 million -- it would be
especially appropriate for Ralph Lauren to stand up and side with democracy
and human rights, and break with the dictators of Burma.

Human rights activists have already successfully pressured a number of
apparel companies, including Levi Strauss, Liz Claiborne, Disney Eddie
Bauer, Macy's, Columbia Sportswear, OshKosh B'Gosh and Reebok to pull out of
Burma.

Warnaco is a Special Case.  Warnaco Owns the Ralph Lauren "Chaps" Label

Warnaco recently pulled out of the White House Task Force To Eliminate
Sweatshop Abuses, explaining that they feared independent monitoring of the
factories (and those of their contractors) might lead to public disclosure
of trade secrets, which could be damaging in such a highly competitive
industry.  At the time, the National Labor Committee was surprised by
Warnaco's logic, since they make underwear and shirts, and not spy
satellites.  But now it is quite clear.  What Warnaco really fears from
independent monitoring is that the U.S. people would find out where and
under what conditions Warnaco clothing is being made.

Combating sweatshops:

The National labor Committee announces a National Day of Concience to End
Sweatshops on October 4, 1997.  The Day of Conscience is being co-sponsored
by the United Methodist Church Women's Division, UNITE, People of Faith
Network, Congressman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) and many other organizations.

Unless there is movement, Ralph Lauren, Warnaco and other U.S. companies
continuing to produce in Burma will be among the companies focused on.

The National Labor Committee will also organize a Holiday Season of
Conscience, and will release a list of the worst 30 companies which continue
to violate human rights.

SAMPLE LETTER TO RALPH LAUREN

Mr. Ralph Lauren, Chairman
Polo Ralph Lauren
650 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022

fax:212-888-5780

Dear Mr. Lauren:

I urge and plead with you to immediately withdraw all Ralph Lauren Chaps
clothing production from Burma.  The Burmese military dictators are among
the worst human rights violators in the world.  According to the U.S. State
Department, the military dictatorship has used "extrajudicial killings,"
"rape," "disappearances," "arbitrary detention" and "physical abuse" to
"intimidate," "terrorize," and "repress" the people of Burma.  President
Clinton has linked the Burmese dictatorship to narco-trafficking.  The
European Union has condemned Burma for its use of forced labor and child labor.

Garment factories in Burma operate under iron-clad martial law.  The U.S.
State Department reports that not only are workers are stippped of their
rights, but the average wage is only six cents an hour for a 60-hour work week.

The military regime in Burma receives critical financing from its control
over the export assembly industry.  In other words, these factories actually
fund the brutal repression.

The National League for Democracy that won over 82 percent of the popular
vote in 1990 -- an election which was immediately annulled by the military
-- is calling for total international economic sanctions, much like the
sanction movement which finally toppled the apartheid regime in South Africe.

The press describes you as a person who prides himself on your hands-on
management style and attention to details.  Please remove production of the
Ralph Lauren Chaps label from Burma, and take a stand for democracy and
human rights by removing your company's name from any relation to the
Burmese dictatorship.

It would be an especially powerful step in the defense of human rights
around the world, if you publicly announced your withdrawal from Burma until
democracy is restored, and asked that other U.S. apparel companies, such as
Warnaco, J. Crew and Lee, follow your lead.

I am very anxious to learn what steps you intend to take.

Thank you.

Sincerely,


CAMPAIGN FOR LABOR RIGHTS newsletter subscriptions:  Send $35.00 to 1247 "E"
Street SE, Washington, DC 20003.  For a sample copy, send your postal
address to clr@xxxxxxxxxxxx
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To receive our email Labor Alerts, send a message to clr@xxxxxxxxxxx with
"labor alerts -- all campaigns" in the subject line or specify which labor
issues interest you:  Nike, Disney, Guess, child labor, Guatemala, Mexico,
Nicaragua, El Salvador, US farm workers, US poultry processing workers.   If
you would like to receive information which falls outside those categories
(prison labor, workfare, other policy issues, additional briefing material
on some campaigns), indicate that you want to be on our Additional Labor
Information list AS WELL AS our All Campaigns list.