Labor, Human Rights Groups Call on Strickland to Drop Contracts with 'Sweatshops'

July 1, 2008 Gongwer Ohio Report No. 127, Volume 77

Ohio should stop spending taxpayer dollars for goods produced in overseas in so-called "sweatshops," advocates said Tuesday. Gov. Ted Strickland was asked to revise standards for state contracts accordingly.

Labor, religious and human rights groups urged the governor to join the Sweatfree Consortium, which helps government entities enforce anti-sweatshop policies by investigating factory conditions overseas.

Pointing to a report the group released Tuesday, Victoria Kaplan, Sweatfree Communities Midwest regional coordinator, said Ohio had current contracts with two companies that use overseas apparel factories linked to child labor, poverty wages, excessive hours, and physical and sexual abuse.

The group has had "positive" discussions with the Strickland administration on the issue, she told reporters during a conference call.

Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey said the governor is reviewing the consortium's invitation, but has already taken steps to eliminate contracts with companies that have links to sweatshops.

"The governor doesn't want the state doing business with companies linked to human rights violations," he said.

"That's why he's directed the Department of Administrative Services to review current contracts, to communicate directly with companies that are alleged to be involved in these practices, and to outline Ohio's expectations," he said.

DAS has already sent letters to the two contractors targeted by the report, he said.

Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop said his county's recent decision to implement a "sweat-free" purchasing policy was met with broad support for both moral and economic reasons.

"I don't think anyone wants their taxpayer dollars to go to a company that not only abuses workers... but actually brings down wages for citizens of Lucas County and of Toledo," he said.

As contracts come up for renewal, the county will ask companies to document their compliance with the policy, he said.

The consortium has the potential to actually change companies' labor practices, Mr. Konop said.

"A lot of it boils down to purchasing power and how many entities you can get on board," he said. "Obviously, if Ohio would adopt the sweatfree policy in conjunction with some of these other places around the country, that really changes the dynamics of the market."

Ms. Kaplan said Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maine have been involved in developing sweat-free purchasing policies for the consortium and may join shortly.

Entities that have such policies have not seen a significant increase in costs, she said. "The fact is we can find well-made products for a reasonable price and it's a good investment to be treating workers well because its good for the economy."

Ohio AFL-CIO Chief of Staff Tim Burga said the proliferation of sweatshops were a result of globalization that has proved detrimental to workers.

"This profit at any cost sort of approach has not helped workers abroad, and certainly not in the U.S. or Ohio," he said.

"As a result, jobs have gone down in Ohio, wages have stagnated, and goods and products are unsafe," he added, pointing to the mounting trade imbalance of $350 billion for 2008.