{{Short description|British workers' rights organisation}} {{EngvarB|date=June 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} '''Labour Behind the Label''' (LBL) is a UK-based non-profit co-operative organisation with an office in [[Easton, Bristol|Easton]], Bristol, which campaigns for [[workers' rights]] in the [[clothing industry]].<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2005/dec/13/ethicalliving.lifeandhealth | date = 13 December 2005 | access-date = 9 September 2014 | newspaper = [[The Guardian]] | title = Campaign of the week: Labour behind the label}}</ref><ref name="independent-30-march-2014">{{cite news | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/cheap-garments-carry-a-high-cost-9223561.html | date = 30 March 2014 | access-date = 8 September 2014 | newspaper = [[The Independent]] | title = Cheap garments carry a high cost}}</ref><ref name="telegraph-shepard">{{cite news | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthcomment/3345294/Engaging-the-high-street-is-the-way-to-ethical-clothes.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110705195633/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthcomment/3345294/Engaging-the-high-street-is-the-way-to-ethical-clothes.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 5 July 2011 | date = 24 June 2008 | access-date = 8 September 2014 | first = Anna | last = Shepard | newspaper = [[The Daily Telegraph]] | title = Engaging the high street is the way to ethical clothes}}</ref> It is the platform of the international [[Clean Clothes Campaign]] in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/apr/07/hennes-mauritz-h-and-m | date = 7 April 2012 | access-date = 8 September 2014 | first = Lucy | last = Siegle | authorlink = Lucy Siegle | newspaper = [[The Observer]] | title = Is H&M the new home of ethical fashion?}}</ref><ref name="ft-taylor">{{cite news | url = https://www.ft.com/content/54d8a76a-17b7-11dc-86d1-000b5df10621 | date = 11 June 2007 | access-date = 9 September 2014 | first = Andrew | last = Taylor | newspaper = [[Financial Times]] | title = 'Sweatshop' alert for Olympics | quote = Research by the Playfair Alliance – supported by the Trades Union Congress and the British-based Labour Behind the Label [...] Maggie Burns, who chairs Labour Behind the Label – the British arm of the international Clean Clothes campaign,}}</ref> LBL's members include trade unions and their local branches, consumer organisations, campaign groups, and charities.
Its main activities are [[consumer education]], lobbying companies, lobbying government, and solidarity with workers in disputes in factories producing for UK clothing companies.
==History== Labour Behind the Label was involved with the global 'Play Fair at the Olympics' campaign in 2004, which brought together trade unions and campaign groups to call for greater action from the Olympic movement and the sportswear industry on workers' rights.<ref name="ft-taylor" />
==Reports== Labour Behind the Label carries out research and produces reports.<ref name="telegraph-shepard" /><ref name="independent-mcpherson">{{cite news | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/news/cambodian-textile-workers-who-supply-uk-clothing-stores-starving-and-suffering-mass-faintings-8820468.html | first = Poppy | last = McPherson | date = 16 September 2013 | access-date = 8 September 2014 | newspaper = [[The Independent]] | title = Cambodian textile workers who supply UK clothing stores 'starving' and suffering 'mass faintings'}}</ref> It has produced, on its own or in conjunction with other organisations, the following reports that were reported on in national media:
* ''Fashion Victims: The True Cost of Cheap Clothes at [[Primark]], [[Asda]] and [[Tesco]]'' (2006) in conjunction with [[War On Want]] and Alternative Movement for Resources and Freedom Society (AMRF).<ref group="n">The ''Fashion Victims'' report is available in the LBL site [http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/news/item/586-fashion-victims-the-true-cost-of-cheap-clothes-at-tesco-asda-and-primark here] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909004935/http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/news/item/586-fashion-victims-the-true-cost-of-cheap-clothes-at-tesco-asda-and-primark |date=9 September 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-real-cost-of-fashion-a-special-report-400611.html | date = 16 November 2007 | access-date = 8 September 2014 | newspaper = [[The Independent]] | title = The real cost of fashion: a special report}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' reported that this "brought huge public attention".<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2013/jan/17/khorshed-alam-obituary | date = 17 January 2013 | access-date = 9 September 2014 | first = Paul | last = Collins | newspaper = [[The Observer]] | title = Khorshed Alam obituary | quote = In 2006, the UK charity War on Want commissioned Khorshed Alam, who has died, aged 46, of septicaemia, to undertake research in Bangladesh on workers producing clothes for Primark, Tesco and Asda. His report on their poverty wages and sweatshop conditions brought huge public attention.}}</ref> * ''Let's Clean Up Fashion'' (2007), in conjunction with War on Want, revealed that workers making clothes for British high street stores receive around half of the money they need to live a decent life.<ref group="n">The ''Let's Clean Up Fashion'' report is available in the LBL site [http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/news/item/587-lets-clean-up-fashion-2007-update here] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909004921/http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/news/item/587-lets-clean-up-fashion-2007-update |date=9 September 2014 }}</ref><ref name="telegraph-shepard" /><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/sweatshops-paying-workers-half-what-they-need-to-live-402306.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091209230552/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/sweatshops-paying-workers-half-what-they-need-to-live-402306.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 9 December 2009 | date = 14 September 2007 | access-date = 8 September 2014 | newspaper = [[The Independent]] | title = Sweatshops paying workers half what they need to live}}</ref> *''Asia Floor Wage'' (2009) calculated a wage it says should be used as a minimum for workers in Asia, enough to pay for food, water, clothing, housing, taxes, utilities, healthcare and education, that would prevent countries competing at the expense of workers.<ref group="n">The ''Asia Floor Wage'' report is available in the LBL site [http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/jobs/item/download/55 here] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909031242/http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/jobs/item/download/55 |date=9 September 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8294531.stm | date = 7 October 2009 | access-date = 8 September 2014 | publisher = [[BBC News]] | title = 'Living wage' identified for Asia }}</ref> *''Taking Liberties: the Story Behind the UK High Street'' (2010) in conjunction with War on Want, describes "how Marks & Spencer, Next, Monsoon, Debenhams, [[Dorothy Perkins]] and Miss Selfridge ... use Indian sweatshops which pay poverty wages and break labour laws to keep costs to a bare minimum."<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/dec/12/british-high-street-sweatshop-probe | date = 12 December 2010 | access-date = 9 September 2014 | first = Gethin | last = Chamberlain | newspaper = [[The Observer]] | title = Britain's high street chains are named by sweatshop probe}}</ref><ref group="n">The ''Taking Liberties'' report is available in the LBL site [http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/resources/item/913-taking-liberties here] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910160028/http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/resources/item/913-taking-liberties |date=10 September 2014 }}</ref> *''Killer Jeans'' (2011) about companies such as Asda, Diesel, [[Matalan]] and Primark selling jeans made using sandblasting to give denim a worn look, and how silica dust from the sand can get into workers' lungs, causing [[silicosis]] and possibly death.<ref group="n">The ''Killer Jeans'' report is available in the LBL site [http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/jobs/item/952-killer-jeans-report here] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909005126/http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/jobs/item/952-killer-jeans-report |date=9 September 2014 }}</ref><ref name="telegraph-butler">{{cite news | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8392757/Top-chains-are-urged-to-ban-sandblasted-jeans.html | date = 20 March 2011 | access-date = 8 September 2014 | first = Sarah | last = Butler| newspaper = [[The Daily Telegraph]] | title = Top chains are urged to ban sandblasted jeans}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.theecologist.org/campaigning/campaigning_the_basics/904478/take_action_to_ban_killer_jeans.html | date = 25 May 2011 | access-date = 9 September 2014 | first = Matilda | last = Lee | publisher = [[The Ecologist]] | title = Take Action to ban 'killer jeans'}}</ref>
==Labour Behind the Label Trust== The Labour Behind the Label Trust is a separate organisation who raise funds for Labour Behind the Label's charitable activities. The Trust is a charity, independent of Labour Behind the Label, but the two organisations work together closely.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/about-us | access-date = 9 September 2014 | publisher = Labour Behind the Label | title = About Us | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140908230416/http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/about-us | archive-date = 8 September 2014 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>
==Notes== <references group="n" />
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
== External links == *{{Official website|http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org}} * [http://www.cleanclothes.org Clean Clothes Campaign] [[Category:Workers' rights organizations]] [[Category:Anti-corporate activism]] [[Category:Business ethics organizations]] [[Category:Social responsibility organizations]] [[Category:Co-operatives in England]] [[Category:Worker co-operatives of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Research organisations in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Organisations based in Bristol]] [[Category:Political organisations based in the United Kingdom]]