SweatFree Ohio

Campaign Goal    Take Action    Endorsers    Media    Resources    Contact

County Commissioner Ben Konop greets supporters of Lucas County's Sweatfree Procurement Policy, adopted July 3, 2008.

Campaign Goal

If Ohio is like other states, most of the apparel, textiles, and other products that it buys with taxpayer dollars are made in sweatshops.

But that can change. A growing national movement is organizing for "sweatfree" purchasing to build market demand for sweatshop-free products and political momentum for a just global economy. You can see the growing list of Ohio organizations and businesses that have endorsed SweatFree Ohio below.

Help us make Ohio sweatfree! Through our collective effort, our state can ensure living wages and decent working conditions for those producing goods for us. This will also help level the playing field for U.S. workers who have been impacted by the global race to the bottom. It's time we stop tax dollar support for sweatshops.

Endorse the campaign now!

Ohio has a unique place in the history of the U.S. anti- sweatshop movement. In 1997, North Olmstead, Ohio became the first sweatfree city in the nation, starting a national movement that now includes 181 government entities. Nine cities and two counties in Ohio have adopted sweatfree purchasing policies, and in June 2008 Lucas County became the first county in the nation--and the first government in Ohio--to commit to joining the State and Local Government Sweatfree Consortium. 

In March 2007, SweatFree Communities convened a historic meeting of human rights activists and public officials who agreed to form the State and Local Government Sweatfree Consortium, which will pool resources for factory monitoring and coordinate enforcement of sweatfree purchasing policies. The interim Steering Committee for the Sweatfree Consortium is now inviting states, counties, cities, towns, and school districts to join the Sweatfree Consortium as provisionary members. The more that join at this early stage, the sooner the Sweatfree Consortium will get off the ground. It's time for the entire state of Ohio to join the Sweatfree Consortium.

Take Action

Ask Governor Strickland to join the State and Local Government Sweatfree Consortium.

1. Ask the governor to adopt this sweatshop-free procurement Executive Order. Here's a sample letter you may use. Use this form or send a letter or fax to:

Governor Ted Strickland
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108

2. Your action is most effective if you follow up with a phone call to the Governor's office: (614) 466-3555
3. Send us a note to let us know that you took action.
4. Spread the word! Ask your friends to take action!
5. Endorse the campaign.

Endorsers

SweatFree Ohio campaign endorsers (as of July 15, 2008):

John Carroll University JUSTICE- Jesuit University Students         Together in Concerned Empowerment

Ohio State Council, UNITE HERE

Council Fellows, Columbus Council on World Affairs

InterReligious Task Force on Central America

Ohio AFL-CIO 

United Steelworkers Local 2737

Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good – Ohio

ProgressOhio

Sisters of Mercy, Regional Community of Cincinnati

Ohio Conference on Fair Trade

MIGUATE

Columbus Jobs with Justice

Toledo Area Jobs with Justice

Cleveland Jobs with Justice 

First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus Social Justice Committee

Matheny 2008

Annunciation Church

Congregation of St. Joseph

Cleveland Diocesan Council on Global Solidarity

Simply Living

Church in Society, NE Ohio Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church

Church of the Resurrection: Social Justice Commission

Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, Cleveland

Peace with Justice Project, United Methodist Church

St. Louis Church: Solidarity Committee

We Believe Ohio 

United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries

John Carroll University Campus Ministry

Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee

West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church - Social Action Committee 

Media

Resources

>> The law we hope to pass in Ohio
>> Information on the State and Local Government Sweatfree Consortium
>> 2-page flier about the campaign
>> Sweatfree Toolkit
>> Many more resources

Contact

Get in touch with us to learn more and join the effort!

Sweatfree Ohio Campaign
(574) 975-6207

midwest@sweatfree.org

Donate

Endorse the Campaign

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