Workers, Student Groups Announce Back-to-School Boycott of American Eagle Outfitters

American Eagle manufactures casual clothing for young men and women and operates nearly 1,000 stores in North America. National Logistics Services (NLS) is a third-party distributor that ships American Eagle merchandise throughout Canada from its warehouse in Mississauga, Ontario.

Warrendale, Pennsylvania-based American Eagle now outsources its Canadian distribution operations to NLS, but the clothing company directly owned and operated the distribution center until early 2006. Though they no longer own the facility, American Eagle remains NLS’s largest customer, and the distribution center serves the retailer’s expanding base of 73 stores in Canada. AEO’s decision to outsource its distribution did not eliminate their responsibility to oversee the labor conditions and operations at the Ontario facility.