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Milwaukee Tool sued for alleged use of forced labor in Chinese prison factory

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Milwaukee Tool sued for alleged use of forced labor in Chinese prison factory



Lawsuit against Milwaukee Tool says the company had gloves made in a Chinese prison factory using forced labor, under brutal conditions which included torture and beatings.

Milwaukee Tool has been sued for allegedly having work gloves made by forced labor in a Chinese prison factory under deplorable conditions which included beatings and torture.

The lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee claims the Brookfield-based company knew, or should have known, the gloves were made with forced labor, a violation of the U.S. Trafficking Victim Protection Act.

The plaintiff is only identified under the pseudonym Xu Lun, who in July 2021 was convicted of “subversion of state power,” a charge commonly used by the Chinese government to target activists and human rights campaigners.  His real name was withheld from the lawsuit out of fears for his safety, according to the law firm Farra & Wang, of Washington, D.C., which brought the action.

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For five months in 2022, Xu Lun was subject to forced labor in the prison factory which allegedly made work gloves bearing the “Milwaukee Tool” logo, according to the suit.

Xu Lun was assigned to sorting fabric, thread cutting, gluing, ironing and quality control, the suit noted. The workdays were up to 13 hours. Prisoners were only allowed a 10-minute break in the morning, a 25-minute break for lunch, and a 10-minute break in the afternoon. They were only permitted up to three days off per month.

“The factories had no air conditioning or heating, and the prisoners were subjected to severe weather conditions,” the suit claims. “The summer months were particularly brutal, with extreme heat and humidity, and poor ventilation. Many prisoners developed eczema and other skin ailments in the hot and humid factories.”

The factories were also laden with fabric dust so severe that prisoners were required to wash it off before they were allowed to take showers. The constant exposure to dust caused respiratory health issues for many of the prisoners, according to the suit.

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The facilities were cramped, making it difficult for the prisoners to work comfortably or safely. Some developed health issues such hemorrhoids and prostatitis from long periods of sitting without breaks.

There were workplace injuries caused by the machinery, including fingers punctured by the embroidering machinery, the lawsuit claims.

Lawsuit: workers threatened, punished for not working hard enough

Xu Lun alleged he regularly witnessed fellow inmates being threatened and punished when they refused to work, didn’t work hard enough, or did not meet production quotas.

“Punishment included being forced to stand or squat for long periods of time, being banned from visitation with family, being banned from buying goods with their money, and being forbidden to use the bathroom,” the suit notes.

“More severe punishment included being sent to the high-security section of the prison, being placed in solitary confinement, being forced to walk while squatting, and being woken up every hour with a roll call. The most severe punishment included beatings and electric shocks with electric rods,” according to the suit. “The experience of being exploited and forced into grueling work was humiliating and dehumanizing,” it said.

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The Milwaukee Tool products made in the prison were the “Demolition” gloves and “Winter Demolition” gloves, the “Performance” and “FreeFlex” gloves, according to the suit.

“When the gloves came on the market, Milwaukee Tool heavily touted the fact that, unlike other companies that might just use an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), Milwaukee Tool was different. Rather than rely on others for design and manufacturing, Milwaukee Tool differentiated its glove offerings by touting Milwaukee Tool’s ownership of the design and manufacturing processes,” the suit claims.

Milwaukee Tool could not immediately be reached for a response to the allegations. But the company has publicly stated it has no tolerance for forced labor.

Congress held hearings about human rights in China

Last July, a congressional commission examining human rights issues in China turned its attention to the company’s reported connections to forced labor as it examined “corporate complicity” in abuses linked to the Chinese Communist Party. In a hearing, the wife of a man in a prison where the gloves reportedly were made, described the working conditions and railed against what she called Milwaukee Tool’s “disregard for human rights” and called on Congress to act.

Xu Lun worked for a non-governmental organization that advocated for the rights of vulnerable groups in China including persons with AIDs, hepatitis B, and people with disabilities. The suit doesn’t specify damages sought, but the Trafficking Victim Protection Act allows victims of forced labor to file a civil action against companies that knowingly benefited from the practice.   

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Milwaukee Tool is owned by Hong Kong-based Techtronic Industries, which is also named in the suit.

Century-old Milwaukee Tool has been one of Wisconsin’s fastest-growing employers, with many of the new positions in technical roles in Menomonee Falls, Brookfield, Milwaukee, Mukwonago, Sun Prairie and West Bend. 

The company has spent hundreds of millions of dollars expanding its U.S. operations in recent years. It has manufacturing plants in the United States, China, Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.

Previously known as Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp., the company traces its history back to the 1920s when Henry Ford was looking for a compact hand drill. 



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Milwaukee, WI

Home Depot slashes prices for Milwaukee tools this Wednesday, October 22

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Home Depot slashes prices for Milwaukee tools this Wednesday, October 22


Great deals at Home Depot on Wednesday, October 22: DEWALT Drills, RYOBI Kits, Milwaukee tools, Halloween Decor, hand tools, storage… are selling for cheap

Home Depot – Mark your calendar! Home Depot’s biggest savings drop on Wednesday, October 22.

Get the DEWALT Hammer Drill & Driver Combo Kit for $249 instead of $399, the Husky Screwdriver Set (15-Piece) for just $34.97, and these stunning Plug-in String Lights (48 ft.) for $29.97 instead of $39.97.

Our favorite: Transform your outdoor space with up to 50% off Halloween items – perfect for last-minute decorating.

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Snag these offers while they last below.

Home Depot deals on Wednesday, October 22

© Home Depot

Save $150 on professional DEWALT power tools with the DEWALT Hammer Drill & Driver Combo Kit with FLEXVOLT ADVANTAGE for $249 instead of $399.

Explore more deals:

  • Milwaukee Compact Drill/Driver w/ Battery, Charger & Tool Bag
    for $99 (was $199)
  • RYOBI High Torque Impact Wrench Kit w/ 4.0 Battery & Charger
    for $149 (was $259)
  • RIDGID (2) Batteries & Charger Kit w/ Drywall Cut-Out Tool
    for $178 (was $356)
  • Milwaukee Hammer Drill & Impact Driver Combo Kit w/ (4) Batteries & Bag
    for $199 (was $369)
  • RYOBI Jig Saw w/ 2.0 Ah Battery & Charger Kit
    for $89 (was $158)

Best hand tools deals at Home Depot

© Home Depot

For $34.97, you’re getting a professional Husky Screwdriver Set (15-Piece) at just $2.33 per screwdriver – an unbeatable value.

See all the best deals:

  • Milwaukee Hand Tool Kit (3-Piece)
    for $29.88 (was $55.91)
  • Apollo Home Tool Kit in Pink (135-Piece)
    for $35.88
  • Fiskars Splitting Axe w/ 28 in. Shock-absorbing Handle
    for $55.98
  • RYOBI Drive Ratchet and Socket Set (26-Piece)
    for $19.97 (was $29.97)
  • Empire True Blue Magnetic Tool Box Level (12 in.)
    for $15.97

Transform your garage from cluttered to controlled with these deals

77 in. W x 72 in. H x 24 in. D

77 in. W x 72 in. H x 24 in. D  © Home Depot

The Husky 4-Shelf Storage Unit in Black for $249 transforms garage chaos into organized space. Four massive shelves handle tools, equipment, and clutter – instantly reclaim your floor.

Don’t miss these storage picks:

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  • 1-Bike Steel Bike Rack
    for $89.99
  • HDX Tough Storage Tote (27 Gal.)
    for $9.98
  • 4-Drawer Green Tool Cart (33 in.)
    for $278.80 (was $320)
  • 5-Tier Metal Shelving Unit in Black
    (24 in. D x 72 in. H x 48 in. W)
    for $113.35

Your 6 Must-Have Outdoor Essentials for Fall

© Home Depot

The Plug-in String Light with 24-Filament LED Bulb (48 ft.) for $29.97 instead of $39.97 create the cozy ambiance perfect for fall entertaining and outdoor gatherings as the weather cools down.

Don’t miss these incredible fall deals:

  • RYOBI Jet Fan Leaf Blower w/ Battery & Charger
    for $99
  • 39 Gallon Lawn & Leaf Bags
    for $26.49
  • Steel Propane Standing Pyramid Patio Heater w/ Wheels
    for $188 (was $235.61)
  • Milwaukee Pruning Saw Kit w/ Battery & Charger
    for $249 (was $499)
  • Grass Shear & Shrubber Trimmer w/ Battery & Charger
    for $69 (was $79)

Halloween final sale: Save up to 50%

© Home Depot

The Animated LED Skelly with LifeEyes (6.5 ft.) costs only $139.98 instead of $279 – perfect for creating a show-stopping Halloween display that’ll definitely be the talk of your neighborhood.

Explore more Halloween savings:

  • LED Skelly’s Cat (5 ft.)
    for $99 (was $199)
  • Animated LED Witches Scene (6.5 ft.)
    for $124.98 (was $249)
  • LED AirBlown® Archway Black Cat Witch (14 ft.)
    for $99 (was $199)
  • Animated LED Fear Valley Wolf (5.5 ft.)
    for $99.98 (was $199)

On the hunt for something else? Take a look at the other awesome deals at the Home Depot online store!



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Milwaukee, WI

Thousands in Milwaukee join ‘No Kings’ rally to make voices heard

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Thousands in Milwaukee join ‘No Kings’ rally to make voices heard


Saturday, Oct. 18 was the second No Kings rally of the year, protesting President Trump and his policies. An estimated seven million people participated in over 2,500 rallies across the globe. In Milwaukee, thousands packed Milwaukee’s Cathedral Square Park, including Tequila Matthew.

“We should not have to worry about walking down our streets as U.S. citizens,” Matthew says. “You should not have to be scared to take your kids to school. You should not be scared to go to church. That’s not what this country was built on.”

Tequila Matthew (center) and her family

Local organizers estimated more than 15,000 people came out in Milwaukee. The crowd included families, veterans, people supporting abortion access, LGBTQ+ rights and immigrant safety.

“We are more powerful in numbers,” says Milwaukee’s Daisey Velazquez. “What the government is doing currently is not OK. I’m a child of immigrants. And stuff that’s happening right now with our immigration is not OK.”

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Velazquez is an MPS teacher who has family in Chicago. On the block where her family lives, there have been ICE and DHS raids. While Velazquez says her family members weren’t stopped, the legalized racial profiling has been horrific.

Considering how urgent the danger is for her family, she was skeptical about the No Kings rally before coming out.

“Sometimes a protest just feels like empty words and being very honest,” she says. “However, I do think that it lets the country see, the government see that their actions are not going unnoticed. Seeing their state sanctioned violence is not going unnoticed. Like we’re here and we’re standing up for what we believe in because they are hurting people directly.”

Daisey Velazquez with her sister Julie
Daisey Velazquez and sister Julie

Organizers of the Milwaukee event started the day with an Org Fair, or a chance for people to get familiar with organizations doing work in the area that opposes Trump and his policies. It also invited local leaders to speak at the event.

“I think it’s important to make sure that we’re resisting at every opportunity,” says Angela Lang, executive director of BLOC, Black Leaders Organizing for Communities. “And folks are eager to come together to show that display of power. And so I was really excited to ask to be here today.”

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In her speech, Lang urged people to think nationally and act locally, and consider how some of these issues like surveillance or police militarization are already affecting people in Milwaukee.

“I joke around and say everyone has a role in the movement, whether you’re my therapist or you’re the yoga instructor helping us all breathe through it,” says Lang. “So I really always want to see protests like this inspire folks to take more action, whether it’s facial recognition technology or it’s the city budget and how we’re allocating and investing in our communities. All of this is a way for us to get involved.”

Protestors at Milwaukee's second 'No Kings' rally
Protestors at Milwaukee’s second ‘No Kings’ rally

President Trump denied claims of being a king but later posted multiple AI-generated videos mocking the event. Meanwhile, the No Kings organizers have a public virtual event scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 21 night.





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Brewers Predicted To Replace Rhys Hoskins with Breakout Slugger

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Brewers Predicted To Replace Rhys Hoskins with Breakout Slugger


The Milwaukee Brewers came out to a slow start to the season, but they were able to turn it around midway through the year. After finding their stride, the Brewers got hot and ran off an incredible win streak before surging through the dog days of summer and ending the year with the best record in baseball.

But they were bounced by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. As they head into the offseason, they’re going to be faced with a lot of huge decisions, including a potential Freddy Peralta trade. But there are plenty of other crucial roster decisions for the Brewers to make in the coming months.

FanSided’s Mark Powell recently predicted the Brewers would cut ties with slugger Rhys Hoskins in favor of breakout star Andrew Vaughn this offseason.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Andrew Vaugh

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn (28) reacts after striking out swinging during the ninth inning of the National League Championship Series game October 14, 2025 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. / Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“Rhys Hoskins signed with the Brewers in the first place in hopes of bouncing back following a devastating end to his Philadelphia Phillies career,” Powell wrote. “Hoskins is injury-prone and while he used to be a sound defensive first baseman with power, has taken a step back ever since tearing his ACL in 2023.

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“He has a club option to remain with the team this coming season, but it would be surprising for Milwaukee to act on that given the performance of his replacement, Andrew Vaughn. The former White Sox top prospect is finally starting to perform like the All-Star first baseman Chicago thought he could be. That’s bad news for Hoskins, who may have to test free agency again as a result.”

Hoskins hasn’t been the same level of star over the last year, but Vaughn has been a star. The Brewers added Vaughn midway through the year when the infielder was struggling.

Since joining the Brewers, Vaughn was incredible. He was a key reason the team was able to dominate down the stretch and earn the best record in baseball. Going forward, the Brewers would likely rather roll forward with Vaughn rather than Hoskins. The decision shouldn’t be a tough one, either.

More MLB: Brewers Expected To Lose Key All-Star To Free Agency



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