Letters / Review

Andy’s pen savages sweatshop profiteers ANDY VINE’S incisive cartoons have for some time given witty bite to the pages of RMT News and a host of other trade union journals, as well as the labour movement’s daily, The Morning Star. There is also a growing following for his subversive tongue-in-cheek comic books, Warning:This Is Propaganda – the latest issue of which contains a superb cartoon version of The Great Money Trick from Robert Tressell’s The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. Now Andy’s razor-sharp pen is being wielded in the global battle to end the super-exploitation of labour in some of the world’s worst sweatshops. Based on true events, the cartoon-strip No Sweat eloquently shows how transnational corporations use their economic muscle to make cynical use of countries’ lax labour laws to squeeze huge profits from workers, often children, labouring for long hours in unsafe conditions for poverty wages. It shows how big-name corporations try to duck responsibility by hiding behind outsourcing contracts with third parties, and turn a blind eye to the often brutal suppression of attempts by workers to organise into unions to defend themselves. But it also shows how consumers, arm in arm with trade unions and campaigning organi- sations, can use their own power to expose the perpetrators and help sweatshop workers win a living wage, safer working conditions and the right to organise unions. The real Mexican workers behind the No Sweat cartoon eventually won the right to organise, and a massive worldwide campaign even forced Nike – yes, you guessed right! – not to end their contract with the factory. No Sweat is published by the campaigning organisation of the same name, whose aim is to build solidarity with sweatshop workers and their organisations, help unionise sweatshops here in Britain, and to help stamp out the sweatshop scourge. By ordering and circulating copies of No Sweat, you can become part of the movement for justice for sweatshop workers. G No Sweat is available for just £1 per copy plus p&p from No Sweat, PO Box 346707, London SW9 8YA, telephone 07904 431 959, email admin@nosweat.org.uk. No Sweat can also supply speakers and other campaigning materials. G More of Andy Vine’s work can be viewed on his website, www.avine.co.uk, and Warning: This is Propaganda can be viewed at www.wtip.org.uk. Derek Kotz John McDonnell’s record speaks for itself Dear editor, I write as chair of governors of Barnhill Community School and as one of the local councillors for Barnhill Ward with reference to Roddy Keenan’s letter in the June/July edition of RMT News.The school was not mentioned by name in his letter, but was, in fact, the school involved. I welcome his comments regarding John McDonnell’s opposition to privatisation in its many forms. Indeed, John has impeccable credentials in this and other respects in his pursuit of socialist ideals. John’s opposition to the privatisation of “everything that moves” is well known.Therefore, I find it galling when the writer chooses to take a niggardly snipe at John regarding his support for education provision for the children of the residents that he represent. For the record, this school was provided under PFI provision by Jarvis – as the writer points out. What he is either unaware of, or chooses not to mention, was that John was for the project as I was, but was opposed to provision by PFI, as was I.The decision to proceed under a PFI project was imposed by a now defunct quango, the Funding Agency for Schools, for the questionable reason that there was insufficient time by traditional means. A school had existed on the current site since the 1940s. It was closed in 1992 by a Tory council administration. By winning a by- election in 1993 with John’s consid- erable help, the colour of the council changed and the sale of the site was prevented. John, though he was just a local activist at this time, set about with the council and local people lobbying for the reopening the site. The school bears witness to his success. John had fought, as he does every day of his life, for better resources for the people that he represents. Should he condemn the school because it is provided by means that he had no say over at the expense of desperately-needed school places? I think not. John McDonnell is unique as a community MP. He works ceaselessly in his pursuit of the needs of Hayes and Harlington without compromising his principles. He warrants every support from trade unionists everywhere. So come off it Roddy, reserve your criticisms for those that warrant it.That most certainly is not John MacDonnell. 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