Government contractors shouldn't run sweatshops

Filed in Opinion on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 Hampshire Gazette

To the editor: Massachusetts Governor Patrick's concern over the care of the illegal immigrants' children from the raided New Bedford sweatshop is commendable but misses the bigger issue - a sweatshop existed in his state.

When federal immigration officials raided Michael Bianco Inc., they discovered horrific working conditions similar to the conditions in New England mills over a century ago. The workers at Michael Bianco are mostly from Central America, a region where so-called "free trade" has eroded local economies and forced people to emigrate for their survival. Unfortunately, the poor working conditions these workers faced in Massachusetts were not much better than sweatshops in Central America.

And what was Michael Bianco, Inc. producing in this sweatshop? Vest and backpacks for the US military.

The exposé of a sweatshop in Massachusetts demonstrates the need for action. But action should not mean closing down sweatshops and depriving workers of their jobs. Instead, government should require its contractors to improve conditions to meet fair labor standards. Government should require contractors to disclose where their factories are located, the wages workers are paid, and the conditions in which they labor. Businesses that operate sweatshops behind a veil of secrecy should not benefit from public contracts. Our tax dollars should not subsidize sweatshops.

A positive action is for Governor Patrick to join with Governor Baldacci of Maine, Governor Corzine of New Jersey, and Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania in the Governor's Coalition for Sweatfree Procurement and Worker Rights.

More information can be found by visiting www.sweatfree.org.

Liana Foxvog
Florence

Massachusetts Sweatfree Campaign