The quest for cleaner clothes: using more systematic data collection to promote worker organising and advocacy in the international garment sector

We highlight two cases of experimentation designed to improve working conditions at sites in the international garment sector. Each case involves systematic data gathering and analysis to reinforce union organising and advocacy. The first concerns the representation of worker grievances by a small grassroots union in Southern India. The second concerns transnational calls for urgent assistance made to the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), which is a leading international NGO in the garment sector. These two cases highlight how exploitation happens, and the challenges to freedom of association at the local, national and international levels in garment supply chains. By juxtaposing workplace data with broader trends, it is possible to identify barriers to collective organisation. A key takeaway is the importance of rigorous data management for the credibility, efficacy and status of local and international actors in their advocacy. Despite multiple obstacles,these two cases illustrate the importance of active promotion of the rightful place of organised labour at the local and global bargaining table.