Stay on Santa’s Nice List, Shop Union

by Cynthia McCabe  |  December 14, 2011

If you’re looking for a way to tackle your holiday shopping without selling out your union pride, we’ve compiled a list of some popular brands that carry the union label.

When your wish lists include electronics or appliances, stick with Electrolux, Kenmore and Frigidaire. Have a cook on your list? All-Clad or Rival cookware is the best option. For the kids, there are Radio Flyer wagons or Oshkosh B’Gosh duds. Sports fans always welcome tickets to a game and many professional teams are unionized. See a full list here.

Even the treats you stuff stockings with can make a difference. Hershey, Russell Stover, Nestlé, See’s and Godiva are all made by union workers.   

This is just a sampling of products available. Head to unionlabel.org and search their database of products and retailers. While no company is likely perfect, the key is to be as informed and purposeful a customer as possible.

And who’s on the naughty list? Home Depot, Overstock.com and Wal-Mart are all owned or operated by notoriously anti-union, right-wing conservatives who donate heavily to politicians who oppose collective bargaining. Those donations are of course coming in part from their businesses’ profits. You work hard for your money all year, so don’t hand it over to businesses that don’t support workers’ rights.

And finally, if you’ve had a bit too much holiday cheer, don’t forget the Advil and Pepto-Bismol. Both are union-made.