Nightmare on Sesame Street
K’Nex, makers of Lincoln Logs, are in the cross heirs of the National Labor Committee for the poor conditions under which a Sesame Street play set is produced. The play set in questions is Ernie’s Building Set.
From the story in the New York Daily News:
“Every single labor law in China was being violated at this factory,” said Charles Kernaghan, director of the committee.
The report says that 600 workers – including 100 16-year-olds and some children as young as 13 – are forced to work seven days a week, up to 15 hours a day, often going for months without a day off.The workers are allegedly paid 43 cents an hour and sometimes forced to work 23.5 hour shifts.
The Ernie Building Set in question retails for $10.99.
In the interest of full disclosure: Ernie is my favorite Sesame Street character. I never cared much for Bert.
That you like Ernie more sooo reminds me that you are the younger sibling! I thought Ernie was fun, but I sympathized with Bert for having to put up with Ernie messing with him. My brothers were always touching my things. Sigh.
Bert is a grumpy, uni-browed Nerd. Ernie is carefree, fun to be around, and has a nicely shaped head.
I hate to say it, but I lose a bit of respect for anyone that chooses Bert over Ernie.
But Bert had that thing for paper-clips! And organization and tidiness!
When I was about 4 years old I had Bert and Ernie slippers (one was Bert; the other was Ernie). The unibrow fell off Bert. I looked and looked for it, but could not find it. It was quite traumatic.