Cheatham: Austin leading the way to a sweatshop-free marketplace

Thursday, June 28, 2007 Austin-American Statesman
Carla Cheatham, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RELIGION AND LABOR NETWORK OF AUSTIN

On June 21, Austin took a bold stand to become the first "sweat free" city in Texas.

Adopting the Procurement Code for Humane Workplace Conditions, the City Council ensured that the $2 million in tax money it spends each year on uniforms and garments will not go to suppliers who engage in sweatshop abuses. As defined by the U.S. Department of Labor, this means two or more violations of the most basic labor laws: sexual abuse or intimidation, illegal workplace hazards, overtime or wage violations, or the use of child, indentured or slave labor.

In becoming a "sweat free" community, Austin joins over 150 cities, counties and states nationwide that have made a commitment to supporting legal and humane workplaces. Championed by the Austin Sweatfree Campaign and sponsored by Council Members Mike Martinez, Sheryl Cole and Lee Leffingwell, the ordinance puts Austin - long known for its environmental leadership - on the map as a leader in human rights as well.

Taxpayer-supported sweatshops can be dangerous and sometimes deadly. In 2006, a Bangladesh factory fire killed at least 84 workers, predominantly young women between 12 and 15 years old, as locked or blocked exits prevented their escape. The factory had supplied linens, underwear, and prisoner uniforms to a major contractor for the state of Utah. Though Utah residents knew nothing of this factory, their hard-earned tax dollars were paying for the mistreatment of poor, young employees, many of whom perished as a direct result of inhumane and illegal practices. By the time residents learned how their tax dollars had been spent, it was too late.

Unfortunately, many believe garments labeled "Made in the USA" are automatically "sweat free", but, shockingly, the U.S. Department of Labor has found over half of U.S. sewing shops classifiable as sweatshops. In Los Angeles alone, two-thirds of garment factories were in violation of wage and hour laws and 98% had health and safety violations with the potential to cause significant injury or death. In U.S. territories like American Samoa - which produce "Made in the USA" items, but do not abide by our labor laws - conditions are even worse.

As shoppers, we often feel helpless in the face of such widespread injustice, but becoming a "sweat free" community can make a real difference, as large institutional purchasers have power to gain the attention of manufacturers in a way individual consumers do not. There are humane and legal garment companies out there. When big purchasers, like the city, put our money on the good guys, the pressure increases for other manufacturers to do the right thing, too – or lose major contracts as a result.

So how will factories be monitored and how much will it cost? Monitoring will come from a nonprofit group being created by the newly-formed State and Local Government Sweatfree Consortium, whose leaders include elected officials from Maine to Los Angeles. Expected to come online in the next fiscal year, the monitoring group will use unannounced factory visits and confidential interviews to ensure compliance. Participating governments will contribute 1% of their total garment purchases for monitoring - about $20,000 annually for Austin, or less than 3 cents per resident per year. As to garment costs, city purchasing director Byron Johnson says he does not expect any significant price increase as a result of the ordinance. (Research shows the final price of a garment has little bearing on the amount paid to the worker who actually produced it.)

Though we may not wish to believe it, we are all part of a system that encourages the exploitation of workers in sweatshop labor. As individuals, our influence is limited, but together we can do a tremendous amount. U.S., state, and local governments have a combined purchasing power of $400 billion. If we used that $400 billion to speak with one voice, imagine the difference we could make.

Last week, the City of Austin stood up to this challenge, ensuring that $2 million of our tax dollars will not pay for sexual abuse, severed fingers, forced contraception for female employees, 90-hour work weeks, harassment and assault of workers, or dangerous factories. We applaud our City Council for this courageous act, which we believe reflects the true values of our community.

There is much left to do, but our power grows with each city, county, state or school district that joins the fight. Together we can accomplish great things. To find out how, visit http://ReligionAndLaborNetwork.org or http://TexasFairTrade.org.