Sweatshop Free Portland
Published October 10, 2008 @ 11:24AM PST
On August 29, 2007, a landmark Sweatfree Resolution unanimously passed in Portland, Oregon. The City of Portland spends approximately $2 million in public funds on uniforms and clothing with most of the clothing obtained utilizing sweatshop labor along the supply chain. The City of Portland Sweatshop Free Procurement Policy set in motion a policy calling for the city of Portland to only purchase uniforms and clothing that were made under sweat-free conditions.
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.
This Wednesday, October 15th, this Sweatfree Policy will go before the City Council for a vote. The Sweatfree Portland Campaign is encouraging all Portland residents and supporters all over to gather and show your support for this resolution.
Now we need your support more than ever to bring the struggle in Portland the last leg of the way to victory as we return to council with a sweatfree policy including strong codes of conduct that will fight worker abuses such as twenty-hour shifts and seven days a week of work, toxic fumes and other dangerous conditions, verbal harassment and public humiliation, and poverty wages.
The Sweatfree movement is one that is very closely tied to Fair Trade, working toward fair and safe treatment of workers and more transparency in the supply chain, so we encourage you to stand in solidarity and show your support. For those inspired by Portland's historic resolution can find out how to get organized in their own community and demand their own Sweatshop free resolution.
DETAILS:
Wednesday, October 15th 2008
9:30 AM
Portland City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave.
For more information contact:
Portland Sweatfree Campaign
503-236-7916
Author
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Zarah Patriana
- San Francisco, CA
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Zarah is the Operations Manager for the Global Exchange Fair Trade Online Store, a project of the international human rights organization, Global Exchange. Alongside her work with marginalized communities from all over the world to get their products into the international market, Zarah serves to educate and inform the public about a more just and sustainable trading system.
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