Johnny’s sweatshop scooter

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.


Those faddish Razor scooters today’s kids are hankering for are made in a sweatshop in China, according to the National Labor Committee in Support of Human and Worker Rights.

Recent Must Reads

12/28 – UK says gay sex OK overseas

12/23 – Globalization of sushi

12/22 – The choice erosion

12/21 – Activists under siege

The NLC doled out its “Golden Grinch” anti-awards to retailers this holiday season, giving one to Sharper Image for carrying an exclusive edition of the Razor scooters (other retailers also carry the basic model). According to NLC research, the scooters are made at Yuan Da Metal Factory in China, where workers are paid just 14 cents for every scooter they produce. The scooters sell for $89 to $119 each.

Another Grinch award went to the Department of Defense for importing apparel made in Burmese and Nicaraguan sweatshops for sale at military installations. Other “awards” went to Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, Farberware, and the ubiquitous Nike.

What’s independent journalism worth to you?

Our news will always be free to read, watch, and listen to online. But what is its value?

Unbiased reporting on the issues that billionaire-owned newsrooms won’t touch. Fearless research into the dark corners of government and corporations. Ferociously fact-checked news that focuses on the facts, and the facts alone.

It IS free for you and every reader, viewer, and listener to utilize. But it’s not free for our team to make. So, what’s it worth to you? Let us know by making a donation: Make a one-time donation today to support this work. Or make a monthly sustaining donation to help us plan for the future.

Whatever you choose, know that you’re supporting more independent, investigative journalism in a time when we need it most.

What’s independent journalism worth to you?

Our news will always be free to read, watch, and listen to online. But what is its value?

Unbiased reporting on the issues that billionaire-owned newsrooms won’t touch. Fearless research into the dark corners of government and corporations. Ferociously fact-checked news that focuses on the facts, and the facts alone.

It IS free for you and every reader, viewer, and listener to utilize. But it’s not free for our team to make. So, what’s it worth to you? Let us know by making a donation: Make a one-time donation today to support this work. Or make a monthly sustaining donation to help us plan for the future.

Whatever you choose, know that you’re supporting more independent, investigative journalism in a time when we need it most.

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

INDEPENDENT. BECAUSE OF YOU.

Mother Jones has no billionaires calling the shots—just readers like you making fearless reporting possible

Donate