Mankato, the FIRST Fair Trade Town in Minnesota  (2011), is 83 miles south-west of the Twin Cities.  To read Mankato's Fair Trade journey, click here.

Happy Pride Month!

As Fair Trade advocates, we know what it means to promote equitable practices and this year, a new campaign from Fashion Revolution is asking the question, "Who Made My Pride Merch?" Large brands use Pride Month as a way to make money with limited addition rainbow clothes without supporting the LQBTGIA+ cause in any other aspect of their business. "Who Made My Pride Merch?" is encouraging queer folks and allies to call out big brands and demand transparency along supply chains to ensure that no human being was harmed in the making of their pride collections.

Join the campaign to fight for a fairer world with @WhoMadeMyPrideMerchon Instagram. 

What are the origins of Pride Month?

•Pride Month started with the Stonewall Uprising in New York City on June 28, 1969.
•Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were transgender activists seen as pioneers for LGBTQ rights.
•The rainbow flag is known as the symbol for Pride, but there are many other Pride flags too.

Read the entire history here.

Support Your Local Fair Trade

Support your Mankato area merchants who sell fair trade products.

Click on the picture to view the video or the name of the store to visit their website.

New Ulm's Own                      Care & Share

212 N Minnesota St.                218 10th St N, 

New Ulm, MN 56073.              Mountain Lake, MN 56159

Hilltop Hy-Vee                           Sweet Alice

2010 Adams St.                         214 S. Minnesota Ave.

Mankato, MN 56001                  St. Peter, MN 56082

THE PRO ACT WOULD PROTECT WORKING PEOPLE AND FAIR LIVELIHOODS
The Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2021, known as the PRO Act, is the most comprehensive piece of labor legislation the U.S. has seen in years. At present, approximately 75% of large employers hire firms to stop organizing efforts, with 40% charged with violating labor law. Workers are getting outspent by massive disinformation campaigns, as was visible in California recently. Instead, we need far-reaching legislation to safeguard worker organizing in the workplace and provide legal recourse for violations of workers’ rights.

The PRO Act aims to protect workers’ basic rights by:

1. Introducing meaningful, enforceable penalties for companies and executives that violate workers’ rights. Currently, employers who violate workers’ rights face no civil penalties and workers are barred from bringing lawsuits against employers who violate the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
2. Expanding workers’ collective bargaining rights and closing loopholes that corporations use to exploit workers. Right now employers can “misclassify” workers as independent contractors, denying their right to organize.
3. Strengthening workers’ access to fair union elections and requiring corporations to respect the results. Current laws empower employers to stall union elections and retaliate against workers organizing their workplace.

 What are You Wearing?  The Guide to Clothing Material

https://goodonyou.eco/ultimate-clothing-material-guide/?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-goodonyou_app&utm_content=later-13770214&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram

Factory Workers Deserve More

Factory workers have always been pushed to the margins. It took a factory collapse that stole 3,000 lives to generate enough consumer outreach to shake the industry. While conditions had improved for many since the disaster at Rana Plaza, COVID-19 more than wiped away those gains. 

An estimated 60 million workers were put at risk at the height of the pandemic, and the crisis continues to affect even more. It’s time to make our voices heard once again.  

Fair trade has been a consistent solution for many of these mostly female, chronically underpaid workers. Not only do Fair Trade Certified factories increase income, they ensure that workers have a voice and decision-making power, and that critical workplace safety measures are in place.  

During the pandemic, nearly $2.5 million was sent directly to workers in fair trade factories—money that was used for desperately needed PPE, food, and other healthcare needs. 

#GetTheSeal

It’s time for more brands to step up! It’s time for us to call on them to #GetTheSeal. Tell us the brand that you love the most and want to make a commitment to fair trade to protect their factory workers. We'll let them know what their customers want, and how they can take action.

KISS THE GROUND UPDATE

 If you were not able to attend, or even if you were and you would like to view a video of the discussion, CLICK HERE.