Ctrl.Alt.Shift is demanding that the supermarket ban the sale of non-Fairtrade bananas for good. At 1pm 03.03.09, Protestors will stage a simultaneous flashmob protest in the town centres of: London, Nottingham, Brighton, Leeds, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Exeter, Belfast and Glasgow.
Join Glasgow Ctrl.Alt.Shift Facebook group or email flash [at] ctrlaltshift [dot] co [dot] uk for more details.
Much as I would support a campaign for Fairtrade, I’m not impressed with this tactic. Humiliating a call-centre worker does not endear me to their methods. Taking the same tack with a corporate communications person, who is trained to deal with these more politically-motivated questions, is maybe a bit more fair game, but even then, only if it is handled with a bit more dignity.
Yes I know that the dignity of underpaid workers is the real issue here, but there are ways of putting across human rights issues and economic equality without attempting to make a laughing stock of someone. The ‘captions’ used to label the responses were nothing more than cheap manipulation, giving the person no right of reply.
Sorry, but I don’t think this is the way to achieve public sympathy.
I think you’re right John. The video is coming off. I hadn’t watched it though and agree that it’s unfair.
I’d like to apologise to both of you for any offense caused. I’m not wild about some of the language used in the video, though I understand it being aimed at a different demographic whom I maybe don’t always get. Either way, thanks Stewart for still leaving the post up with the basic information there… appreciate it.
I don’t think you have anything to apologise for emma. I didn’t have a problem with the language, more the idea that having a go at someone who works in a customer service call centre believing that they are somehow responsible for the policy of Tesco. I hope that the protest won’t target people who work for Tesco, but rather draw attention to the the issue of Fairtrade.
Flashmobs are a very passive experience and I can’t see why people would get offended, they aren’t as confrontational as picketing a store or taking Direct Action such as ethical shoplifting or glueing locks. The purpose is to show the store up by demonstrating the numbers of people in support of the protest and by using new methods such as flashmobs protest remains creative and positive.
I can see the Store staff being more confused by the action than offended.
Emma,
Ditto to what Stewart said, no need to apologise. I think the campaign is a good one and Fairtrade is something I’ve been involved in for many years. I used to be a Traidcraft account holder and between youth groups and church got plenty of use out of it. I only really stopped when most of what I was selling could be bought, ironically, in places like Tesco, often at a slightly lower cost.
My issue with the video is that it is having a go at someone in a call centre, who has no direct influence on corporate policy and is almost certainly earning no more than the legal minimum wage for this country. By all means use such operators as a conduit to make views known to a company – they do listen, believe it or not, especially if enough people are ‘requesting’ Fairtrade goods. But don’t mock and pillory them for doing their job within the limited responsibilities and knowledge they do have.
Roo,
My issue wasn’t with flashmobs – I have no opinion on them one way or another.
My concern was with the video Stewart posted (and later removed). Have a look at it on Emma’s blog and you’ll perhaps see where I was coming from.
Thanks for clarifying – I see where you’re coming from, and I’ll pass the comments along to the folks in charge of making the videos. The aim is to raise awareness about Fairtrade, which I think we will be able to do via the flashmob. Thanks for your support!