Activists lead teach-in about sweatshop labor

July 16, 2008 The Olympian

Olympia activists aimed to raise public awareness Tuesday about what they call sweatshop conditions and human-rights violations in factories that produce uniforms and other apparel purchased by cities, counties and state governments.

Dick Meyer and others read from a 61-page report by Sweatfree Communities in a quiet teach-in outside Traditions Cafe & World Folk Art, which Meyer owns, in downtown Olympia. The report, at www.sweatfree.org/subsidizing, was based on interviews with workers in 12 factories in nine countries including Bangladesh, China and the Dominican Republic.

Meyer said one of the vendors identified in the report supplies police and fire uniforms to the city of Olympia, which passed a resolution in 2004 to encourage purchasing products made by people paid nonpoverty wages.

City Councilman Joe Hyer, who also owns an outdoors store that sells sports clothing, said he has agreed to look into the issue as a member of the council's budget committee.

The South Sound Clean Clothes Campaign has other information at www.southsoundcleanclothes.org.