[Reader-list] GAP Cambridge shut in shame on 1st Anniversary of Rana Plaza Collapse

[Patrice Riemens]

GAP Cambridge shut in shame on 1st Anniversary of Rana Plaza Collapse

GAP and GAP Kids shops were shut in shame in Cambridge yesterday as
customers, workers and passers-by were reminded and informed about the
1st anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster where workers were mass
murdered by the company’s practices. Most customers took flyers and
were interested to know that GAP are still refusing to sign the
Bangladesh Safety Accord preferring to create a sham safety alliance
themselves. Some customers also signed the letter calling on the GAP
CEO to sign the accord and to recognise all workers unions.

When the manager of GAP was given a flyer she at first refused to
discuss the issue at all or to pass the letter on to her superiors but
did eventually agree to let them know of customers views. CLASS was
then asked to leave GAP and did so, but flyers and conversations with
customers continued directly outside the shops on the pavement. Anyone
going in or out of the shop was approached and the vast majority were
interested to hear about what had happened at Rana Plaza and
subsequently.

It wasn’t long until the sale signs were taken into the shops and the
doors were locked. CLASS continued to talk to passers-by as well as
people trying to get into GAP, only to be told it was shut, and those
customers now being let out one by one from the shop. Some also signed
the letter and the shop manager was good enough to take a few when
asked to by knocking on the shop windows. After the first time however she
said that the shop was now shut, the staff were going home and so
further signed flyers could be left under the door.

A few people who signed flyers said that they would return the next day
to give them to shop staff themselves. Anyone in Cambridge is very
welcome to print out the flyer, sign it and hand it in to the manager
at the shop on Market Street. A big thank you to those who do so. CLASS
will also return to GAP to continue this dialogue in the future.

This action, on the 1st anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse, was
carried out by the Cambridge Lettrist And Situationist Society (CLASS)
in solidarity with global actions called for by Labour Safety Forum
Bangladesh, Clean Clothes Campaign and War on Want. CLASS is a
Communist (dis)organisation consisting of one member and part of the psychic
workers union DAMTP. All in all the action, inside and outside GAP and
GAP Kids, lasted about 30 minutes.


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