Press release: Trade unions and campaigners call on UK brands to support Leicester manufacturing with a 1% production pledge
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, 31 October 2024
A group of trade unions, campaigning organisations and community groups have today written to leading UK high-street fashion brands, including M&S, NEXT, Matalan and 21 others, to encourage them to support more garment production in Leicester. Among the signatories are GMB and IWGB trade unions, and the letter stresses the needs of garment workers in the city, who are facing increasing hardship and shrinking employment opportunities across the sector. The letter goes on to demand that brands commit to a minimum 1% of orders to be produced in Leicester as a way to provide sustainable jobs in the area.
The open letter is released to mark the anniversary of a worker rally in Leicester that saw more than 500 workers come out to demand secure jobs and decent wages.
While production of garments in the UK continues to decline, global production shows no signs of slowing down with brands instead favouring cheaper labour and reduced visibility overseas. Campaigners warn, however, that UK brands are abandoning workers at a time when they should be looking to incorporate more domestic production in their sustainability plans. The letter’s demands are backed by a public petition with over 2,800 signatures, and a 2022 Make It British survey shows 69% of consumers are more likely to buy UK-made products post Brexit and the pandemic.
Alena Ivanova, Campaigns Lead at workers’ rights organisation Labour Behind the Label said:
‘We call on UK fashion brands to act now and show they are truly committed to making a positive difference for communities here. Garment workers in Leicester have given decades to this industry. It’s not right that they should see their jobs disappear, while brands continue to produce more and more, but chase a cheaper price abroad. There is a huge opportunity here to set an example. A 1% commitment locally would enable suppliers to invest, workers to upskill and brands to benefit from the environmental advantage – and the reputational boost more responsible behaviour would grant them.’
Organisers vow to continue campaigning until they see a serious commitment from brands to the Leicester garment industry.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Full letter text and signatories list: https://labourbehindthelabel.org/leicester-open-letter/
In October 2023 over 500 garment workers gathered in Spinney Hill Park in Leicester for a rally for better jobs, organised by Labour Behind the Label: https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/garment-workers-being-forced-leave-8797107
Public petition in support of good jobs for garment workers in Leicester: https://labourbehindthelabel.org/good-jobs-for-garment-workers/
Press release for 2022 Make It British survey: https://makeitbritish.co.uk/press/press-release-made-in-uk-survey-2022/
For media enquiries please contact:
- Alena Ivanova – alena@labourbehindthelabel.org // +447565161800
- Ellen Kettell – ellen@labourbehindthelabel.org // +447936406640