Buy union. Don't buy toxic toys.

Be American and Buy American over the holidays. Even better, buy union made products, like New Balance moccasins, Justice Clothing hoodies and Radio Flyer wagons. (Canada is okay too.)

Don't buy toxic toys for your kids. Avoid Toys R Us products that have tested positive for PVC, which causes health problems in children. Some of the dangerous Toys R Us toys include Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Hangout, Club Penguin figurines and You and Me dolls.


Here are some websites to get you started on buying union products.:
www.massaflcio.org/buy-union-made
http://www.unionlabel.com/
http://www.ufcw.org/about_ufcw/ufcw_made_products/
http://www.unionwear.com/
http://workers-united.org/buyunion

And here's the website about toxic toys:
http://www.toxictoysrus.com/report.htm

Buy American, Don't Buy Toxic Toys for the Holidays

Here are some gift ideas for the holidays: Reebok NFL jerseys, Ballpark Classics tabletop baseball games, the Tedco gyroscope from Small World Toys, a Dirt King Tricycle or an All American Clothing denim jacket. They're all products made in America.

Here are some things you probably shouldn't buy: Great Shape Barbie, Spongebob Squarepants Switch 'em Up Spongbob Posable Pal, Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer Ice Skater or Disney Princess Royal Giggles Cinderella. They're all toys that have tested positive for the presence of toxic chemicals and sold by Toys R Us. In fact, most toys tested from Toys R Us were apparently made of PVC, which can cause health problems in children.

So you might want to avoid Toys R Us and seek out American-made products. There are several good websites that recommend American-made products, including BuyAmericanMart, BuyAmerican.com and All American Clothing. Check them out.

Today's Teamster News 11.23.10

Christmas Fight: Teamsters vs. Toys R Us  Fox Business News
Cathie Black, as executive pay czar at Coca-Cola, approved hefty perks, compensation for execs  New York Daily News
Union that represents airport screeners urges agency to protect employees  MSNBC   ...TSA workers face verbal abuse from travelers
Woman who told Obama her financial fears has lost her job  Washington Post
Hedge Funds Raided in Probe  Wall Street Journal   ...A three-year insider-trading investigation shifted into high gear Monday as government agents raided the offices of three large hedge funds, sending shock waves through the financial world...
 

Lots of Toxic Toys Still Sold at Toys R Us

Toys R Us is STILL selling toys that can cause cancer and brain damage -- even though they promised two years ago to phase out toys containing lead or phthlates. They also promised to offer more toys that aren't made of PVC.

Guess what -- Toys R Us is still selling plenty of toys made of PVC. Chemicals that can cause learning disabilities, cancer and birth defects were found in toys featuring Buzz Lightyear, Dora the Explorer, Spongebob Squarepants, Batman, Mickey Mouse and more.

You can tell your elected representative in Washington to protect American children by reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act. Here's how.

You might want to mention to your senator or congressman that a report released today said that tests showed seven of nine Toy Story 3 toys were made of PVC. Of 60 randomly chosen toys at Toys R Us, most had chemicals that indicated PVC and only one had a label.  The report lists the toys found to have dangerous chemicals.

Tom Keegel, the Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer, took aim at KKR, the private equity firm that owns Toys R Us. "We don't want you poisoning our kids with toxic toys," he said today in a news conference. "We won't let you profit from poisoning kids at Christmas."

The report was sponsored by the Teamsters Office of Consumer Affairs and  the Center for Health, Environment & Justice.