Portland Sweatfree Campaign

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Victory in Portland: Landmark Sweatfree Resolution Passes

 

August 30, 2007-- Portland’s Sweatfree Procurement Resolution unanimously passed yesterday with the three present commissioners. Over 130 sweatfree supporters crowded City Hall, including union representatives, a former sweatshop worker, and community members to testify in support of the Resolution. Speakers included, Rev. Lynne Smouse Lopez, Ainsworth United Church of Christ; State Senator Brad Avakian; State Rep. Brad Witt; former GAP sweatshop worker Chie Abad; James Hester, President of the District Council of Trade Unions (DCTU); Carol Stahlke, President of AFSCME 189; Heidi Carlson, President of Foundation Garments, Inc.; among many others.

The Sweatfree Resolution sets in motion a process to create the City of Portland Sweatshop Free Procurement policy for uniforms and clothing purchases to be fully implemented in 2008. The policy will require disclosure of supplier factory names and locations, provide $20,000 in funding for the State and Local Government Sweatfree Consortium to pool resources for investigations and monitoring of supplier factories, and establish a committee to craft a code of conduct for the city’s contractors, subcontractors, and vendors.

Resolution considered by Portland City Council on Aug 29, 2007 (doc)
Ordinance authorizing $20,000 to support the formation of the State and Local Government Sweatfree Consortium; accompanying the Aug 29 resolution

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Endorsers

Endorse the Portland Sweatfree Campaign

View the list of campaign endorsers

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Media

In the News

• Gonna Make You Sweat-Free, Baby
Willamette Week– September 12, 2007

• City of Portland pledges to buy no sweatshop apparel
Northwest Labor Press– September 7, 2007

• Sweat-free measure passes without breaking a sweat / La medida sobre no hacer negocios con empresas donde explotan a los trabajadores paso sin una gota de sudor
El Hispanic News– September 6, 2007

• Made in the USA (or Honduras, or Mexico, or Vietnam...)
The Oregonian– September 5, 2007

• Sweat Surrender
Willamette Week– September 5, 2007

• Workers' rights matter in city: Portland takes important step with 'sweatfree' policy
Portland Tribune– September 4, 2007

• Aug. 29 meeting: When the mayor's away, the council will play
The Oregonian– August 30, 2007

• City Hall Notebook (no sweatshop deals)
The Oregonian– August 30, 2007

• Portland Approves Sweatshop-Free Resolution
Oregon Public Broadcasting– August 29, 2007

• Hall Monitor; Sweatfree Resolution Goes Before City Council This Morning; Labor Day Comes Early to Portland
The Portland Mercury– August 29, 2007

• 2 council resolutions dive into societal issues: Voting today - Sam Adams' initiatives address contractor health care and city sweatshop purchases
The Oregonian– August 29, 2007

• Sold Out: No Sweat Shopping
Portland Mercury– August 23-29, 2007

• Sweatfree Ad
Portland Mercury– August 2007

• Sweatfree Ad
Portland Mercury– August 2007

• Coalición espera bloquear a la ciudad de Portland de hacer negocios con empresas donde explotan a los trabajadores / Coalition hopes to block the City of Portland doing business with sweatshops
El Hispanic News– August 9, 2007

• Hall Monitor: Poo, Sweat, and Spit
Portland Mercury– August 9-15, 2007

• End Sweatshop Conditions
The Oregonian– June 19, 2007

• Tax Protest
KBOO– April 17, 2007

• Story on Portland Sweatfree Campaign (click to listen)
KEX 1190 FM– April 17, 2007

• The Three Certainties: Death, Taxes, And Complaining About Taxes
Oregon Public Broadcasting– April 17, 2007

• Sweat Free Campaign Still Pushing For Consortium
Portland Mercury– April 16, 2007

• No Sweat? Anti-Sweatshop Activists Losing Patience
Portland Mercury– April 12-18, 2007

• Sweatfree rally encourages city to take the jump
The Portland Alliance– March 2007

• Marcha contra la explotación de los trabajadores
El Centinela– March 16, 2007

• Union members ask Portland to take anti-sweatshop action
Northwest Labor Press– March 2, 2007

• Sweatshop workers and activists challenge Portland to pass "sweatfree" ordinance
The Asian Reporter– February 27, 2007

• Hall Monitor: Sweat Stains
Portland Mercury– February 22, 2007

• Worker-Rights Advocates Rally For Sweat Shop Ordinance
Oregon Public Broadcasting– February 22, 2007

• Rally Urges Portland to get the Sweat Out
El Hispanic News– February 22, 2007

• Rally for Workers Rights
Oregonian– February 20, 2007

• No More Sweat!!!
Willamette Week Online– February 18, 2007

News releases

April 17, 2007-- Release: Wake-Up Wal-Mart and the Portland Sweatfree Campaign Team Up to Advocate for Labor-Friendly Use of Taxes

Feb 19, 2007-- Release: Sweatshop Workers Call on Portland to Pass "Sweatfree" Bill

Feb 19, 2007-- Advisory: Sweatshop Workers Call on Portland to Pass "Sweatfree" Bill

Feb 1, 2007-- Release: Portland Buying Goods from Companies that Use Sweatshops

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Resources

SweatFree Communities
Global Exchange
Free Trade and Sweatshops FAQ
Sweatfree Toolkit
Many more resources