Post: The First. Or Just How Far Have We Come?

New York Times Garment Industry Article

After reading this article and watching the short video that accompanied it, I am even more motivated in changing the way the garment industry does business in the US.  More specifically that it DOES do business here.  Some of the responses to the article and film pointed the finger at union workers asking for "too much".  Others recognized that it was the big business mindset and lack of awareness of long term effects of job exporting by the government that caused this problem.  Time and again, especially in recent news, unions have been painted as somehow detrimental to workers because they ask too much of businesses.  Those accusations ring false when one takes into account the reality that every human needs to live and deserves to be paid relative to their work.  In a nation where 400 people have 80% of the money (and you can be sure they are not union employees) it would seem that there are larger problems than unionized workers. 

Points learned by Reclaim...
1.  Keeping production local and within the nation's boarders allows for quicker turn around and the ability to keep smaller amounts in stock.  This is less of a financial risk than large scale production.
2.  By employing locally and within the nation's boarders, money stays within the US, which keeps the purchasing public stronger and less susceptible to economic fluctuations.
3.  As illustrated by the factory in the video, by employing workers for working wages and in essence staying loyal to them, the loyalty is returned.  Turnover is lower and the quality of material is higher.