By Michael Messina

The foundation of Labor 411 centers around a basic premise: Every worker in every walk of life should be treated fairly and given a chance at economic well-being. Our list of union-made products and services help consumers join in the cause of supporting fair and safe labor practices.

Having said that, outsourcing has always been something of a problem because labor rights in certain countries are almost non-existent, making for cheap labor (Bangladesh minimum wage stands at $37 a month) and unsafe conditions. Bangladesh and its garment industry have recently been highlighted in the news because of egregious violations that have led to unthinkable losses of life, like the Rana Plaza building collapse that killed over 1,100 people.

The world has responded!

July 4th is here and it’s hotter than ever if you’re living out west. Supplies will be needed for the festivities and Labor 411 has a multitude of fun lists to help you get going. Use the Labor 411 directory when doing all your shopping this July 4th, and if you can’t find it in…

If you love all things sweet, then you’ll love these three union-made, American-made items. Available in a wide variety of flavors, these treats are made by hardworking union members who are dedicated to quality. So go ahead and enjoy these great products and help support good middle class jobs!

Ghirardelli Chocolate

Made by the proud members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (“UFCW”), Ghirardelli is all about delivering high quality chocolate in creative, decadent flavors. Its chocolate bars are available in delicious flavors such as Mint Cookie, Orange Filled, Gourmet Milk Sea Salt, and Intense Dark Espresso. The brand’s famous chocolate squares come in flavors like Toffee Crunch, Raspberry, Pumpkin Spice Caramel, and much more.

By Michael Messina

The greatest of all American summer celebrations is upon us. Independence Day unites a nation on a day when we all lift up what we love about our United States of America. Labor 411 is bound in a tradition of pride when it comes to all things American made and union made. We are proud of the quality products our country produces.

With that said, who doesn’t love a delicious BBQ?! We’ve created some great lists in the past of what to throw on the grill and what to wash it all down with, but what of the other necessities that make the day so much fun? How about the grill itself, or the cooler that’s keeping those brewskis chilled? Union-made Fourth of July amenities are here:

By Sahid Fawaz

If you’re in the market for an SUV, make sure to check out these three bestsellers. Proudly made by the hardworking members of the United Auto Workers (UAW), these SUVs deliver on style and performance, while still remaining affordable for the average consumer. And remember, every purchase of American and union-made automobiles helps support good middle class jobs at home!

1. Ford Escape

The #1 bestselling SUV of 2013, the Ford Escape offers a lot of bang for the buck at its affordable price.

The 2013 model has departed from its previous boxy design, replacing it with an attractive and more curvy look. And it’s also one of the most technologically advanced SUVs with its Ford Sync voice-activation system and the MyFord Touch, which has even faster reaction times on the 8-inch touch-screen.

The Best Union Summer Skin Products, Brought to you by The United Steel Workers & The United Commercial Food Workers, in Conjunction with the Sun

By Melissa Bobrowicz
 
Attention all beauty enthusiasts: Summer 2013 has officially begun!

Here in Los Angeles, we are lucky enough to get enough sunlight year-round to make the rest of the world jealous, but as Angelenos, perfecting the art of “summer skin” is a pretty serious business (literally, as well as figuratively!)   When summer begins, it seems as if everyone starts to glow.

Labor 411 has put together a few cocktail recipes for you over the years, so we figured with the warm weather coming around you might want to find them all in one place. See our Union-Made Mojito, Long Island Iced Tea and Margarita recipes below. Also, we’ve added a new one to the list – Union-Made Piña Coladas! Enjoy!

Piña Colada: On a warm day it’s the ultimate lay out by the beach and soak up the sun drink.

A step-by-step guide to a union-made Father’s Day

By Michael Messina

Our dads have done a lot for us over the years; from carrying us on his shoulders when we were small to guiding us through life’s lessons as we became adults. Once a year we give a little back to Dad on Father’s Day, and Labor 411 has put together a union-made day that will put a smile on his face.

Step 1. Make him a classic breakfast: Bacon and eggs, a side of toast and a steaming hot cup o’ joe.

Bacon: Alexander and Hornung, Butterball, Farmland, Farmer John, Hormel, Oscar Mayer

Eggs: Alta Dena, BonEEBest, Horizon, President’s Choice

By Michael Messina

Just about everyone loves movies; from explosive action flicks to intellectual mind benders to revealing documentaries. We just spent a whole week celebrating IATSE members — the working hands behind these great films — and as a quick follow up we want to show you how you can know for sure if an IATSE member has been involved in the film you just watched.

Our goal at Labor 411 is to identify as many union-made products and services for you, the consumer. I rarely find any product whatsoever with a literal union label or stamp on it these days and a big part of why we exist as a service is because of this very inconvenience.

Not so with IATSE.