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I am an MEC member. At Christmas time I had asked for a raincoat, and suggested that the Aquanator (I believe it's called) from MEC was the type I was looking for. However, when I discovered that MEC was continuing to stock socks from JB Fields I told my family not to get anything for me from MEC. The women who work at JB Fields have been on strike for nearly one year. They are fighting for basic union principles. I find it shocking that MEC would continue to do business with such a supplier.

I have read the letter from Bob Matheson, MEC Operations Manager, to the Friends of UNITE 1764. I found the letter to be an obfuscation and morally objectionable. By continuing to sell JB Fields socks you are taking their side. As a supposedly progrssive company, you should be practicing the precautionary principle with respect to labour disputes. You should not do business with any company involved in a strike or lockout (legal or otherwise) unless there are compelling reasons to do otherwise.

I have recently bought a waterproof breathable cycling jacket for $165, and a raincoat for $110. Had MEC not been supporting JB Fields it is certain that at least one, and probably both, of those items would have been bought at MEC. While there are other cycling and hiking items that I would like to get from MEC, I will look elsewhere and support the boycott of businesses that stock JB Fields' socks, as long as the boycott continues.

I would also add that as a result of the boycott I am now familar with the choice of goods sold elsewhere that previously I would have automatically looked for at MEC. If MEC is no better than those others when it comes to labour rights, then I will no longer make any special attempt to buy stuff from MEC -- even after this strike ends.

Please inform me if your position regarding JB Fields' socks changes.

Dan Shoom
Faculty of Law
University of Victoria

Below is a reply to a letter I sent several weeks ago, and forwarded to you. Based upon the content I can't tell why it took so long to reply to. Not only does this letter simply repeat the policy I already knew, but they didn't even get my name right.

yours in solidarity,
Dan Shoom

From: Bob Matheson -- bmatheson@mec.ca
Subject: JB Fields

Hello Dave,

I am responding to your e-mail on behalf of Bob Matheson. Thank you for writing to express your views and concerns regarding the JB Fields situation. Our position on this dispute still has not changed, we feel that there are still no solid grounds to discontinue the sale of these socks in our stores: the company is not in contravention of any law or labour regulation or our own Sourcing Policy. We do, however, feel that it is important that we inform our members of the ongoing dispute so that they can make an informed decision about whether to purchase the product

I have noted your request to be informed should our position on this issue change.

Jane Perry
Operations Assistant