'Sweat free' purchasing

Wednesday March 7 2007 The Jewish Advocate
By Kristin Erekson

New bill requires disclosure

Officials within the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA) are aiming to open the eyes of local consumers through a new piece of legislation awaiting enactment in the Massachusetts State House.

By teaming up with area lawmakers and human rights organizations, members of the Boston-based social justice group have been working for the past several years to shed light on the exploitation of employees working under “sweatshop”-like conditions in the U.S. and overseas.

But now, JALSA is tackling the issue on a governmental level through its sweatshop disclosure bill, an act that requires the disclosure of locations and conditions of the manufacturing of goods and services furnished to the Commonwealth. The legislation, which is sponsored by state Senator Dianne Wilkerson, is currently awaiting review in the Senate.

“[Our] bill does not tell anyone that they have to stop buying certain goods, but instead, it provides information about the condition in which the goods were made so that people can make up their own minds,” said Sheila Decter, director of JALSA, adding that current state law does allow flexibility in purchasing so that good working conditions can be considered.

Nearly two weeks ago, Decter brought in workers from Nicaragua and El Salvador to speak to JALSA officials about their efforts in creating factories that provide a living wage and decent working conditions for employees. However, the individuals expressed their difficulties in breaking into the production industry, especially when other companies only pay their workers $160 a month and therefore can provide cheaper products to consumers.

“People should be paid for the value of their work,” Decter added.

Decter noted her group had submitted a similar bill to the Senate four years ago, but it had run “into problems” when lawmakers raised concern over whether it would interfere with U.S. treaties or other federal laws. But if JALSA’s new sweatshop legislation is passed, it will be the first of its kind in the state, according to Wilkerson.

“I can sum up the benefit of this bill in one word: fairness,” Wilkerson said. “If we as the Commonwealth believe in this, then we can’t turn a blind eye that these products are being made by people who are treated unfairly.”

Jose Martinez, deputy press secretary for Gov. Deval Patrick, said the governor has not yet had the opportunity to review JALSA’s legislation, but “looks forward to studying it with state Senator Wilkerson down the road.”

Decter noted that JALSA is also engaging in a second initiative to tackle the economic issue. In partnership with SweatFree Communities, a national coalition of anti-sweatshop organizations, members of the social group will be working to create a buying consortium of states who promise to purchase goods that are “sweat-free.”

California, Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, along with dozens of cities, counties and school districts, have adopted “sweat-free” procurement policies, according to Liana Foxvog, the national organizer for SweatFree Communities.