Rally at Capitol denounces sweatshops

July 1, 2008 Lansing State Journal

By David Harris

An organization dedicated to taking action against sweatshops called on Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm today to sign an executive order denouncing sweatshops.

According to a report released today by SweatFree Communities, Michigan entities are buying personnel uniforms from three companies that own sweatshops in foreign countries.

"What we are asking the state to do is to help the impoverished conditions at these factories," said Victoria Kaplan, Midwest regional coordinator of the organization, which led a rally of about 25 people outside the State Capitol today.

The report states that the Department of Natural Resources' uniforms made in a Dickies factory in Pakistan and a Lion Apparel factory in Honduras are sweatshops with low wages and poor working conditions.

The Michigan State Police buys its uniforms through Fechheimer, which has a plant in China that has the same conditions, according to the report.

SweatFree Communities is not asking for the Michigan entities to void the contracts, rather to work with the companies to improve conditions at the factories.

"It would be an injustice if the state were to cut and run," Kaplan said.

Read more on this report in Wednesday's Lansing State Journal.