News
Matalan, Asda-Walmart and Gap pressed on safety
16 May 2013, Latest news
War on Want today urged the public to step up the pressure on dissident retailers which failed to meet yesterday’s deadline to sign the Bangladesh Safety Accord.
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24 hours left – Mango joins Bangladesh safety agreement – Gap and Asda refusing to sign
15 May 2013, Latest news
With less than 24 hours left before the deadline Mango, one of the major UK high street brands sourcing from the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh where over 1,000 people were killed, has joined other major retailers in signing the Bangladesh Safety Accord. Despite many major companies including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Next signing up, Gap and Asda Wal-Mart are both refusing to sign and are attempting to undermine this vital initiative.
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M&S, Tesco and Benetton sign Bangladesh safety agreement: Mango and others hold out
14 May 2013, Latest news
Major UK retailers Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Benetton have all announced that they will be joining Primark and H&M in signing the Bangladesh Safety Accord. The announcement comes in the face of enormous public pressure for UK companies to ensure disasters like the Rana Plaza building collapse where over 1,000 people, mostly female garment workers, were killed, never happen again.
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Primark bows to pressure and signs safety agreement
13 May 2013, Latest news
Retailers Primark and H&M have bowed to popular pressure and signed the Bangladesh Safety Accord after over one million people called on retailers demanding action to ensure disasters like this can never happen again through negligence.
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Alfamir update: out of town but not out of danger
10 May 2013, Latest news
Last month almost 3,000 of you took part in our online action to send an email to the Colombian embassy demanding immediate protection for threatened Colombian human rights defender Alfamir Castillo, whose son was murdered along with a friend by the Colombian army in 2008.
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CODEMUH: fighting back in Honduras
05 May 2013, Latest news
This weekend, a War on Want delegation met members of CODEMUH, the Honduran Women's Collective, in the northern Honduran town of San Pedro Sula. We heard the testimony of women workers from the maquila (garment sector) around San Pedro Sula, many of whom have been permanently disabled as a result of their work in factories supplying well known Western brands with clothes. The videos below offer a brief sample of their stories, and of the importance of CODEMUH in organising women workers and providing them with the confidence to continue their struggle.
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Shack dwellers fighting for ‘Marikana’ land in Cape Town
02 May 2013, Latest news
The homes of hundreds of shack dwellers have been repeatedly destroyed by South African government agents this week in a settlement named Marikana in Philippi East, Cape Town.
Marikana was so named to honour the workers who died for a living wage in the miner strikes last year and because the residents are also “organising ourselves peacefully and are willing to die for our struggle” says Sandile Ngoxolo. Many residents have rebuilt their homes three times in as many days and seen it torn down each time, but this is the only home they have.
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Pressure on Primark grows over tragedy
01 May 2013, Press releases
Primark today faces unprecedented pressure to ensure that the tragedy witnessed in Bangladesh a week ago today never happens again.
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Bonmarche join high street names in petition to ensure Bangladesh tragedy never happens again
01 May 2013, Latest news
British retailer Bonmarche has admitted it was supplied by companies based in the building that collapsed a week ago today. In response the company have today pledged support for those affected. This is simply not good enough.
Therefore Bonmarche has now joined Primark, Matalan and Mango on the 67,000 strong petition calling for retailers to pay full compensation to victims families and ensure all of the brands commit to act to ensure this kind of tragedy never happens again. If you haven't already you can write to the companies and demand action.
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Chilled out comedy greatness was the vibe at the War on Want Comedy Gig
01 May 2013, Previous events
Thank you one and all for giving us the best of comedy, and a really excellent night for War on Want supporters old and new.
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Primark to pay compensation to Bangladesh victims - brands must act to ensure it never happens again
30 April 2013, Latest news
War on Want responds to announcements by Primark and Matalan to the Bangladesh building collapse.
Last night Primark announced that it would pay compensation to the victims of the Bangladesh building collapse that had worked for its supplier factory in the building. Primark’s announcement came after over 50,000 people signed a petition from War on Want’s partner in Bangladesh, the National Garment Workers Federation, calling on Primark, Matalan and Mango to pay full compensation to the workers.
Responding to Primark’s announcement, Ruth Tanner, Campaigns Director at War on Want said:
"If UK high street chains like Primark had put in place proper measures to ensure the workers who make their clothes are safe, these deaths could have been avoided. “
"While Primark has taken some responsibility, the retailer and the other companies involved must pay full compensation, including loss of earnings, sign the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement and ensure such a disaster never happens again."
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We won! Adidas pays out to PT Kizone workers in Indonesia
30 April 2013, Latest news
In a landmark victory, Adidas has agreed to compensate 2,800 Indonesian garment workers who were owed US $1.8 million in severance pay following the closure of sportswear factory PT Kizone in Indonesia.
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UK move sparks ‘ban killer drones’ call
26 April 2013, Press releases
Campaigners are calling on the government to stop using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or “drones”, as Britain has started controlling them from a domestic base.
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Protest targets Primark over Bangladesh workplace disaster
26 April 2013, Press releases
As rescuers continue to search for survivors from the collapsed Bangladeshi block where workers made Primark clothes, campaigners will protest outside its flagship store tomorrow in support of victims and their families.
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Protests erupt in Bangladesh to support victims of building collapse tragedy
26 April 2013, Latest news
The National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) in Bangladesh, War on Want's long term partner in fighting for garment workers' rights, joined two protests led by the IndustriALL Bangladesh Division and the Bangladesh Garment Workers Unity Council earlier today. The union leaders and workers called for the immediate arrest and punishment of the owners of the building and garment factories at Rana Plaza. They also demanded proper medical treatment for injured workers and immediate financial support to the families of the victims.
The Bangladesh Garments Manufactures Exporters Association (BGMEA) has declared two days of temporary factory closures after thousands of workers and people took to the streets. There is anger and frustration that the tragedy could have been avoided if workers' and people's safety had been taken seriously. Over 300 people have died and more than 1,000 are injured. Rescue operations are continuing to try to save hundreds that are still trapped under the rubble.
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