JOC Staff | Dec 18, 2012 11:36AM EST
The International Transport Workers Federation, UNI Global Union and IndustriALL Global Union have joined other labor advocates in calling for reforms from global retailers, such as Wal-Mart and Sears, to improve working conditions at their suppliers, following a fire at Tazreen Fashions clothing factory in Bangladesh on Nov. 24 that killed 112 people.
Shipments of clothing bound for Wal-Mart from the Tazreen factory are due to arrive on the U.S. East Coast. Both Wal-Mart and Sears denied knowledge that their goods were being made in the factory, The New York Times reported.
“Terrible and preventable accidents like the Tazreen fire are the responsibility of the big companies who create the supply chain,” said Stephen Cotton, ITF acting general secretary.
The unions are asking Wal-Mart to provide redress for the victims, support an investigation and adopt measures to prevent future incidents.
