Letter: Nation needs to wake up to ‘slave’ labor

Tuesday, April 4, 2000 | 10:32 a.m.

These products are made by "slaves," children and the elderly, in sweatshops. They carry labels of famous designers and are sold in exclusive shops at outrageous prices. The companies will tell you that they have stockholders to think about if they can reduce their expenditures they can pay more dividends. To them it is the bottom line that counts.

Do you think they are even slightly disturbed by the millions of Americans who have been put out of work by their actions? I have a friend whose son travels to the Orient. He brought back a jacket by a famous U.S. designer; she told me he paid $6 for it. This brand sells for over $70 in exclusive shops here.

The greedy manufacturers, whether they produce clothes, televisions or toasters, are taking advantage of the North American Free Trade Agreement to use "slave" labor at below poverty wages to line their pockets. I'm not sure how many Americans are aware of this problem, or care for that matter, but it's frightening to think we may become a country where nothing is made. Let us pray we wake up in time. I wish I could write 2,500 words.

JOLANE M. BRUNTY