No Lucas County Dollars to Sweatshop Labor

6/4/2008 Lucas County Elected Officials BLOG

by Ben Konop

Yesterday, my resolution that prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars to purchase goods for the county made in sweatshop conditions passed unanimously. The policy is aimed at using taxpayers' dollars ethically to level the playing field for Ohio workers and improve working conditions worldwide. The move adds Lucas County to a list of 10 other Ohio cities and counties with sweatfree policies.

I introduced this resolution because sweatshop labor is unacceptable in the 21st Century. Our community values human rights and workers rights and we should not, and will not, be spending taxpayer dollars on businesses that rely on inhumane and unsafe labor practices to make a buck. We unfortunately learned that we have done business with the North Carolina-based Bob Barker Company that has been linked to sweatshop abuses that left 300 workers - mostly teenage girls - dead in a factory fire in Bangladesh in 2006. The factory exit doors had been illegally locked. We hope that this new policy will prevent us from purchasing goods from any company that treats its employees inhumanely.

We should be proud that Lucas County's sweatfree policy is unique in that it includes strong enforcement mechanisms. It is one of the most aggressive anti-sweatshop resolutions in Ohio and nationwide and will require contractors to certify that they are not using sweatshop labor in the manufacture of garments, uniforms, or related materials purchased with Lucas County taxpayer dollars.

The policy mandates that these contractors doing business with the county pay their workers at production facilities a living wage, adjusted by labor market; that they be afforded the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining; and be provided with safe working conditions and a non-discriminatory working environment.

The policy also includes a commitment for us to join a national Sweatfree Consortium of local and state governments opposed to spending taxpayer dollars on sweatshop labor. The national consortium, organized by SweatFree Communities, will pool purchasing power and create economies of scale, helping create a viable market for sweatfree manufacturing.

Simply stated, it's the right thing to do morally. Just two days ago, we had a rally with local religous, labor and community leaders who all came together to say "No More Lucas County Tax Dollars for Sweat Shop Labor." Our community expects workers to be treated and compensated fairly and taxpayer dollars to be spent responsibly.