Exploitation

Go in person to one discount store and one high-end retailer that sell similar products. Take pictures of the country of origin and any manufacturing information for at least ten comparable products at each store. Record the prices as well. If possible, ask the manager how their buyer orders the products for sale at the store. Then research one product from each store. Try to learn where it was made, who manufactured it, and anything you can discover about wages or labor conditions.

In your reflection, discuss whether the US price predicted where the product was made. Did expensive products appear to involve better labor practices? If not, why did they cost more? How much could you realistically learn about the labor behind the products from each store?  

Find a way to earn money by exploiting bad circumstances. This involves charging people to use something that normally people expect to use or borrow for free, such as a phone charger, gum, cough drop, pen, umbrella, hair tie, snack, ride, parking spot, or bottle of water. You are not allowed to deceive anyone or create an emergency. You may only charge willing customers and you have to find someone who is willing to pay you for something due to solely to the limits of their circumstances. Charge at least $1 and no more than $10. If no one is willing to pay, try a new product. Think about what conditions would have to change for you to make money. 

In your reflection, discuss whether and when it is wrong to make money in virtue of other people's bad circumstances. If it was an emergency, would it have been better or worse for you to charge for your services? 

Your class has the opportunity to negotiate with your professor for improved classroom conditions. Possible topics include deadline policies, grading standards, participation requirements, classroom snacks, or another proposal. Union leaders must choose three proposals for negotiation and schedule a time to negotiate with the professor. However, negotiations will occur only if every student agrees to participate in a preliminary meeting where they choose the three proposals and authorize two students to conduct the negotiations. For this meeting to be valid, every member of the class must attend a meeting outside normal class time. If even one student does not attend, negotiations do not occur.

Afterward, reflect on the challenges associated with orginziation, leadership, and the moral value of solidarity.