Updates 2003
December 2003 (from Student Action for Justice and Educations)-- BROOKLINE, MA ENDORSES SWEATSHOP DISCLOSURE BILL -- The town of Brookline has endorsed the Massachusetts bill to require disclosure of locations and conditions of manufacture of services and products sold to the state. For more information, contact Brett Newman, Student Action for Justice and Education.
November 2003 (from Southern Maine Clean Clothes Campaign)-- ANTI-SWEATSHOP LAW PASSED IN SOUTHERN MAINE-- The town of Scarborough passed a sweatfree procurement law, modeled on the Maine state procurement law, but with an even more comprehensive disclosure policy. View the law.
November 2003 (from Massachusetts Alliance Against Sweatshops)-- ANTI-SWEATSHOP DISCLOSURE BILL PENDING IN MA LEGISLATURE-- An anti-sweatshop "workplace disclosure bill" is pending in the Massachusetts legislature. The bill would create an "Advisory Committee" to accredit organizations that wish to monitor contracts for compliance with the sweatfree code, and oversee the disclosure, independent monitoring and reporting process. For more information, contact Jonathan Fine, Massachusetts Alliance Against Sweatshops.
October 9, 2003 (from No More Sweatshops)-- CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL BANNING PROCUREMENT FROM SWEATSHOPS-- California organizers scored the biggest victory yet of the sweatfree procurement movement when Governor Davis, as one of his last acts, signed a sweatfree purchasing law. The law calls for the development of a mechanism to solicit and review information indicating violations of the California code. For more information, email Erica Zeitlin, No More Sweatshops.
May 29, 2003 (from Pasadena Weekly)-- CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE PASSES "SWEATFREE" GUIDELINES BILL, 25-14--The California State Senate passed Sen. Richard Alarcon's "sweat free" guidelines bill today, the biggest step so far towards reform of sweatshop conditions for workers on taxpayer-subsidized contracts. The victory was due to a strong effort by No More Sweatshops!, UNITE, the AFL-CIO, and a grassroots network of garment worker advocates, religious and womens groups.
May 5, 2003 (Bangor Clean Clothes Campaign)-- MAINE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR PASS RULES TO BLOCK PURCHASE OF GOODS MADE WITH SWEAT LABOR--The Maine Legislature passed and Gov. John Baldacci signed it into law Friday legislation that puts into code rules to require the state to buy apparel, shoes and other goods from companies that pledge not to use child or sweat labor. A bill to create the rules passed last term, but the rules were not finalized and put into law until now.
April 15, 2003 (from Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition)-- MILWAUKEE COUNCIL VOTES FOR NO SWEAT APPAREL--Milwaukee Common Council voted unanimously for an ordinance requiring the procurement of apparel for city staff from responsible manufacturers. The Ordinance includes comprehensive definitions of "non-poverty wage" both within and outside of the U.S., compliance with labor law, no forced or child labor, freedom of association, and termination only with just cause.
February 4, 2003 (from Maquila Solidarity Network)-- HAMILTON CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES NO SWEAT UNIFORM POLICY --In December 2002, the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic School Board in Hamilton, Ontario became the first school board in Canada to pass a No Sweat purchasing policy. The "Sweatshop Free Purchasing Policy" applies to all school uniforms and athletic uniforms.
January 14, 2003 (from AP News)-- LOS ANGELES SCHOOL BOARD ENDORSES "NO SWEAT" GUIDELINES--The Los Angeles Unified School District unanimously adopted a "sweatfree schools" procurement policy for everything from soccer balls to cheerleader uniforms purchased for use in the District's 670 schools and 700,000 students. The Board directed a task force to define the details of policies promoting better wages, safe factory conditions and workers' rights governing all contractors and subcontractors.
