May 2006
Newsletter #8
Contents:
1) Get Your Governor to Stand Up for Worker Rights!
2) Campaign Updates
3) Thank you to SweatFree Communities International Conference sponsors
Get Your Governor to Stand Up for Worker Rights!
If all states joined together to use state government procurement as a tool to end sweatshops we could create a market for goods and services made in humane conditions by workers who earn good wages that might rival even Wal-Mart in sheer economic clout.
This is the vision behind the Governors’ Coalition for Sweatfree Procurement and Worker Rights proposed by Maine’s Governor John Baldacci. SweatFree Communities is building a grassroots campaign to ensure our public officials do the right thing. Please join the campaign!
* Contact us to receive regular updates and invitations to conference calls.
* Go here for a sample letter requesting your governor to join the coalition for sweatfree procurement.
Campaign Updates
Berkeley, California
At the April 18 city council meeting, the City of Berkeley unanimously approved the development of a sweatfree ordinance that will include provisions for independent monitoring of factory suppliers and coordination with other cities and states to enforce the ordinance. Learn more about the campaign.
Brattleboro, Vermont
Child Labor Education and Action, a student organization at Brattleboro Union High School in Vermont and a board member of SweatFree Communities, has received significant press attention after students presented a proposal at the April 3 school board meeting. Students hope that the high school will be the first in the nation to join the Worker Rights Consortium and are building momentum for the May 15 school board meeting. Look for Brattleboro Reformer's coverage of the campaign on our media page.
Maine
Demonstrating support for Governor Baldacci’s proposal for a state sweatfree procurement coalition, the Maine legislature has strengthened the state’s sweatfree procurement law, making it easier for worker rights advocates to call attention to human rights violations at state supplier factories and adding tougher sanctions for violators. Listen to a report from the bill signing ceremony.
Providence, Rhode Island
On April 20 the Providence City Council passed a sweatfree procurement ordinance modeled on those recently adopted in San Francisco and Madison. The Providence ordinance creates a sweatfree procurement advisory group and commits the city to join a future consortium of local governments for independent monitoring of supplier factories.
Toronto, Canada
Canada's largest city voted to protect worker rights in the apparel industry when the Toronto City Council passed a sweatfree purchasing policy at its April 25 meeting. Similar to the new Providence policy, the Toronto ordinance instructs city staff to investigate collaboration with other public jurisdictions in a verification program. See the news release.
[Insert your campaign here! Please be in touch with us with your latest news.]
Thank you to SweatFree Communities International Conference sponsors
Many thanks to the following sponsors who helped make the conference possible: AFL-CIO; Campaign for Labor Rights; Donnelly/Colt Progressive Resources Catalog; Ethical Trade Action Group (E-TAG); Handcrafting Justice; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1837; Jewish Labor Committee; Jobs with Justice, Western Massachusetts; Justice Clothing; Longfellow Community Council; Maggie’s Organics/Clean Clothes Inc.; Maine AFL-CIO; Manny’s Tortas; Minneapolis Central Union Labor Council, AFL-CIO; New York State United Teachers; North Country Fair Trade; Peace through Interamerican Community Action (PICA); Pittsburgh Anti-Sweatshop Community Alliance; Platinum Sportswear; Presbyterian Hunger Program, Presbyterian Church (USA); Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, Connectional Ministries Work Group; Progressive Jewish Alliance; Rainstorm Consulting; Resource Center of the Americas; Scotty’s Fashions; Service Employees International Union, Connecticut State Council; Service Employees International Union, Local 284; Service Employees International Union, Maine State Employees Association; Traditions Fair Trade; Union House; United Methodist Church, General Board of Global Ministries, Women’s Division; Unionwear; United University Professions; UNITE HERE; New England Regional Joint Board, UNITE HERE; United Students Against Sweatshops; and Wainwright Bank.
