- Joined
- Jan 26, 2009
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Quake42 said:I think it's incredibly difficult to persuade the consumer to make political decisions when they shop. There have been a few successes with free-trade coffee, free-range eggs, and organic produce but the price-tag or quality seem to regularly trump all other considerations.
Close to where I grew up was Ringtons Tea Factory. If the wind was blowing in the right dorection, you got the smell of the tea, all warm and dry, Mmmm. One of the things that as a child I'll always remember is the smell, and the van that came around delivering the tea. Now, I have to say, that when the Tea Factory closed, as a family, we made a point of getting the tea delivered, as a political statement, as the tea wasn't thatgood, for years. I know that it kept only around half a dozen drivers in their origional job, but also meant that some of the factory workers were given a job as a driver/deliverer. Not many, but some.
When I got my first home, my Aunt kindly employed the window cleaner, milkman, paperlad and teaman for me. When I asked why, her reply surprised me. (I'm paraphrasing)
"Your Grandfather was the last man to deliver coal from Middleton mine in a horse drawn cart. He loved his job, his horses (proper fat Shire horses!) and his customers, and his family. When he lost his job, he had to lose his horses. When he didn't see his customers, he lost his standing with his neighbours, so he thought. When he couldn't provide for his family in the same way, he lost his heart. He died two years later. No-one should die feeling like that."
I guess people show their politics in many ways, I hope some similar support can happen for the Twinnings workers.