National Labor Committee in Support of Human and Worker Rights
Encyclopedia
The National Labor Committee in Support of Human and Worker Rights, commonly known as the NLC, is a non-profit
, non-governmental organization
(NGO) that investigates human and labor rights abuses committed by U.S. companies producing goods in the developing world. Today, the NLC is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
with offices in Bangladesh
and Central America
, with Charles Kernaghan
serving as Executive Director. The NLC publicizes investigations with aims to influence public opinions and corporate policies. It is currently undergoing a name change to become the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights.
’ President Doug Frazer, and Bill Wimpisinger, President of the International Association of Machinists. At its founding, the NLC’s mission was to help union members and activists in Central America who were victims of political violence. When the 1990 Peace Accords were signed in Central America
, the NLC became a registered non-profit and moved its headquarters to New York
, where it expanded its mission to defend human and worker rights globally. Charles Kernaghan
joined the NLC in 1986 and became Executive Director in 1990.
to research alleged sweatshop factory conditions, where workers in the factory presented labels from the Kathie Lee Gifford
clothing line, which was produced for Wal-Mart
and claimed to be manufactured in the United States
. The NLC targeted Kathie Lee and her high-profile, wholesome image, which sparked a media frenzy and brought the issue of sweatshops into the public eye.
Their 1996 discovery and publicity of Gifford’s clothing line being manufactured in sweatshops is often cited as the beginning of mainstream media coverage of sweatshop and labor abuses abroad. “Kernaghan will perhaps forever be known as the activist who made Kathie Lee Gifford
cry…”
Since then, the NLC has exposed the conditions under which many celebrity labels are made, including those of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
, Sean Combs
, Thalia Sodi, and Daisy Fuentes
. Other reports released by the NLC have targeted the NBA, the NFL, Disney, Ford Motor Company
, Microsoft
, K-Mart, Wal-Mart
, H&M
, Reebok
, Puma AG
, Nike, Inc.
, Liz Claiborne
, Hanes
, Target
, Fruit of the Loom
, Levi Strauss
, JCPenney along with many other clothing labels and companies.
conditions in developing countries that export
goods to the United States
and Europe
. With Kernaghan as Director, the NLC publicly pressures brand-name companies by attempting to shame their public image. Kernaghan learned that “if he took the shirt off your back and showed you the blood of children in the fabric, people would snap alert.” Kernaghan, along with Associate Director Barbara Briggs, have traveled to conferences and factories posing as corporate investors in order to research labor policies and factory conditions. For an NBC "Dateline" segment on the work of the National Labor Committee, Kernaghan wore a pair of eyeglasses with an embedded hidden camera to document conditions inside Bangladeshi plants that produce goods for U.S. companies.
As well as focusing on name-brand companies, the NLC also criticizes celebrities with clothing lines from factories with labor violations, utilizing their public image to gain media attention. The organization’s tactics are criticized by retailers, apparel manufacturers, and international trade representatives for causing negative press rather than transparently negotiating with businesses.
was originally written by the National Labor Committee, in collaboration with the United Steelworkers of America and Senator Byron Dorgan
(D-ND). The act would “prohibit the import, export, and sale of goods made with sweatshop labor, and for other purposes.” The bill has been introduced in 2006 and re-introduced in 2007, but has died in committee and not become law.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
(NGO) that investigates human and labor rights abuses committed by U.S. companies producing goods in the developing world. Today, the NLC is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
with offices in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, with Charles Kernaghan
Charles Kernaghan
Charles Kernaghan is the executive director of the National Labor Committee in Support of Human and Worker Rights , currently headquartered in Pittsburgh...
serving as Executive Director. The NLC publicizes investigations with aims to influence public opinions and corporate policies. It is currently undergoing a name change to become the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights.
Founding
In 1980, the National Labor Committee was founded by Jack Sheinkman, President of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union; United Auto WorkersUnited Auto Workers
The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers , is a labor union which represents workers in the United States and Puerto Rico, and formerly in Canada. Founded as part of the Congress of Industrial...
’ President Doug Frazer, and Bill Wimpisinger, President of the International Association of Machinists. At its founding, the NLC’s mission was to help union members and activists in Central America who were victims of political violence. When the 1990 Peace Accords were signed in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, the NLC became a registered non-profit and moved its headquarters to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where it expanded its mission to defend human and worker rights globally. Charles Kernaghan
Charles Kernaghan
Charles Kernaghan is the executive director of the National Labor Committee in Support of Human and Worker Rights , currently headquartered in Pittsburgh...
joined the NLC in 1986 and became Executive Director in 1990.
Media Attention
In 1996, the NLC was meeting with workers in GuatemalaGuatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
to research alleged sweatshop factory conditions, where workers in the factory presented labels from the Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford is an American television host, singer, songwriter and actress, best known for her 15-year run on the talk show Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, which she co-hosted with Regis Philbin...
clothing line, which was produced for Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
and claimed to be manufactured in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The NLC targeted Kathie Lee and her high-profile, wholesome image, which sparked a media frenzy and brought the issue of sweatshops into the public eye.
Their 1996 discovery and publicity of Gifford’s clothing line being manufactured in sweatshops is often cited as the beginning of mainstream media coverage of sweatshop and labor abuses abroad. “Kernaghan will perhaps forever be known as the activist who made Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford is an American television host, singer, songwriter and actress, best known for her 15-year run on the talk show Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, which she co-hosted with Regis Philbin...
cry…”
Since then, the NLC has exposed the conditions under which many celebrity labels are made, including those of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Fuller Olsen are American actresses and entrepreneurs.Both have appeared in television and films since infancy. Since then, they have continued their celebrity through numerous television programs, films, interviews, as well as commercial endorsements...
, Sean Combs
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
, Thalia Sodi, and Daisy Fuentes
Daisy Fuentes
Daisy Fuentes is a Cuban-American television host, model, and comedian. Daisy Fuentes broke barriers as MTV's first Latina VJ , and as Revlon's first Latina spokesperson to be signed to a worldwide contract.-Early life:Fuentes was born in Havana, Cuba to a Cuban father and Spanish mother...
. Other reports released by the NLC have targeted the NBA, the NFL, Disney, Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, K-Mart, Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
, H&M
H&M
H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB is a Swedish retail-clothing company, known for its fast-fashion clothing offerings for women, men, teenagers and children....
, Reebok
Reebok
Reebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle...
, Puma AG
PUMA AG
Puma SE, officially branded as PUMA, is a major German multinational company that produces high-end athletic shoes, lifestyle footwear and other sportswear. Formed in 1924 as Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik by Adolf and Rudolf Dassler, relationships between the two brothers deteriorated until the two...
, Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, Liz Claiborne
Liz Claiborne
Anne Elisabeth Jane "Liz" Claiborne was a Belgian-born American fashion designer and entrepreneur. Claiborne is best known for founding Liz Claiborne Inc. which in 1986 became the first company founded by a woman to make the Fortune 500...
, Hanes
Hanes
Hanes and Hanes Her Way are brands of apparel currently owned by the HanesBrands, Inc Corporation...
, Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
, Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom is an American company which manufactures clothing, particularly underwear. The company's world headquarters is in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is currently a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.-Company profile:...
, Levi Strauss
Levi Strauss
Levi Strauss was a German-Jewish immigrant to the United States who founded the first company to manufacture blue jeans. His firm, Levi Strauss & Co., began in 1853 in San Francisco, California.-Origins:...
, JCPenney along with many other clothing labels and companies.
Campaign Tactics
The NLC investigates alleged sweatshopSweatshop
Sweatshop is a negatively connoted term for any working environment considered to be unacceptably difficult or dangerous. Sweatshop workers often work long hours for very low pay, regardless of laws mandating overtime pay or a minimum wage. Child labour laws may be violated. Sweatshops may have...
conditions in developing countries that export
Export
The term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...
goods to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. With Kernaghan as Director, the NLC publicly pressures brand-name companies by attempting to shame their public image. Kernaghan learned that “if he took the shirt off your back and showed you the blood of children in the fabric, people would snap alert.” Kernaghan, along with Associate Director Barbara Briggs, have traveled to conferences and factories posing as corporate investors in order to research labor policies and factory conditions. For an NBC "Dateline" segment on the work of the National Labor Committee, Kernaghan wore a pair of eyeglasses with an embedded hidden camera to document conditions inside Bangladeshi plants that produce goods for U.S. companies.
As well as focusing on name-brand companies, the NLC also criticizes celebrities with clothing lines from factories with labor violations, utilizing their public image to gain media attention. The organization’s tactics are criticized by retailers, apparel manufacturers, and international trade representatives for causing negative press rather than transparently negotiating with businesses.
Legislation
The Decent Working Conditions and Fair Competition ActDecent Working Conditions and Fair Competition Act
The Decent Working Conditions and Fair Competition Act is the title of several bills that have been introduced in the United States Congress to try to "prohibit the import, export, and sale of goods made with sweatshop labor"...
was originally written by the National Labor Committee, in collaboration with the United Steelworkers of America and Senator Byron Dorgan
Byron Dorgan
Byron Leslie Dorgan is a former United States Senator from North Dakota and is now a senior policy advisor for a Washington, DC law firm. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party. In the Senate, he was Chairman of the Democratic...
(D-ND). The act would “prohibit the import, export, and sale of goods made with sweatshop labor, and for other purposes.” The bill has been introduced in 2006 and re-introduced in 2007, but has died in committee and not become law.