Buying Union-Made Made Easy

Just exactly what we all need: an easy, practical way to support American labor unions.

Kenneth Quinnell at Crooks and Liars:

Labor group American Rights at Work launched a new website this week, "Union Made," designed to spotlight products made by unionized companies. After surveying their membership, the organization learned that many preferred to buy products made by unionized workers, but didn't know where to look to find out what companies were union and non-union. American Rights at Work usually offers up holiday and event guides for products that are union-made, but this new site looks to expand upon those efforts and go beyond just special occasions.

There used to be an organization and website called "Buy Blue" that helped consumers find out which companies were more progressive but they've long since been out of business and nothing filled the void on a larger level. Hopefully this new effort will help progressives, working families and union allies better spend their dollars and stop giving money to companies that are actively fighting against working families and progressive policies.

The website already has launched categories that include Apparel, Books, Games, Food, Beverage, Gifts & Seasonal, Home Improvement, Appliances, Kitchen & Bath, Sports & Recreation, Stores, Sweets & Snacks, and Travel & Tourism. Soon they plan to expand to include Automotive, Cleaning, and Hotels & Hospitality. The site is open for suggestions and will spotlight specific products that are e-mailed to them.

An associated Pinterest site has been created as well.

Read Before Ordering

You might have noticed that Amazon was not on the list of union-approved places to shop this holiday season. There's a reason for that.

Erik Loomis at Lawyers, Guns and Money:

Fantastic Vanessa Veselka piece about her attempt to organize an Amazon warehouse. Inspired by the WTO protests in Seattle, Veselka took it in her hands to get a job in an Amazon warehouse, contact labor, and start organizing. It didn’t necessarily go very far, but that’s hardly uncommon. Her article is a great look at the Amazon culture and how Amazon tries to ensure a union-free workplace. Very good read, many good lessons for organizers and for all of us.

I know. Amazon is criminally convenient. Resist.

Here's Your New Protest Song

I was just thinking that the only thing the 2011 Protest Year was missing is some good folkie protest songs, when Down with Tyranny brought us this:

Make This Your Buy Union Year

I'm late in recognizing Union Label Week, which began on Labor Day, but it's high time to make every week Union Week, so keep the spirit going by buying union products whenever you can.

It's easier than you think, now that one click gets you to lists of "chocolate, whiskey and more at the union store", as Tula Connell explains:

This week, the UAW published a list of 2010 union-made cars, trucks, vans and other vehicles. It's also Union Label Week, which we hold annually to highlight howunion-made goods are high in quality and help support middle-class communities. These two events reminded me: Making a case for Buy American means we in the union movement need to do our job and show U.S. consumers how and where to buy American, and buy union.

Or at least we can try. I've seen an awful lot of brand-new BMWs, Mercedes and Lexus brands of all types driving around here in Washington, D.C., recently. Something tells me my money helped purchase those vehicles—no doubt some of the drivers are beneficiaries of taxpayer-bailed out financial institutions.

Still, not everyone is laughing all the way to making high-end purchases of foreign-made goods with U.S. taxpayer dollars. And for those who still have a conscious that can be appealed to, this list is for you.

• Next time you stay in a hotel, think about making it a union experience. UNITE HERE offers an online guide for finding a union hotel in the United States and Canada.


• Staying with the travel theme, the AFL-CIO Union Label & Service Trades Department has a list of union airlines, casinos and more here.


• In fact, UL&STD offers a pull-down menu for searches on union-made clothes, financial services, food and beverages (note: Russell Stover, See's and Seagram's), house/home and lots more. Some of the categories are in better shape than others, but it's a good start in pointing out union-made options.


• Buy union products direct at the AFL-CIO Union Shop Online. Books, posters, music, stuff for kids and as many "Health Care Can't Wait" placards you can carry and buttons you can wear.


• Many unions offer products at their websites, and there's a list of union stores here. Of special interest: the Labor Heritage Foundation, which offers music, DVDs and more—proving again that it's not just about bread, but roses, too.

There are union-made, American-made options out there. We just need to know where to find them.