SweatFree Wisconsin Campaign

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Campaign victory!

The SweatFree Wisconsin Campaign is very happy to announce that the State of Wisconsin has joined the SweatFree Purchasing Consortium as of February 2010. Wisconsin is the fourth state and ninth government to join the Consortium, a collaboration of U.S. states, local governments, and other public agencies that helps each entity make sweatfree purchases more effectively and less expensively than any single one could accomplish on its own. Learn more about the Consortium at buysweatfree.org.

The State of Wisconsin now is developing a sweatfree procurement policy based on Consortium principles, and the SweatFree Wisconsin Campaign and SweatFree Communities look forward to continuing to work with the State towards the goal of ending tax dollar support for sweatshops.

SweatFree Wisconsin would like to thank all of its endorsing organizations and campaign supporters who have made this first victory possible.

 

Past event:
Economic Stimulus Speaking Tour

Workers from the U.S. and Latin America speak out against tax dollar support for sweatshops and for economic policies that lift all boats. Hear their stories and take action for positive change in 2009.

Interested in hosting an event in your community? Contact midwest@sweatfree.org or 574-975-6207.

Campaign Goal

Each year, the State of Wisconsin spends millions of our tax dollars on uniforms for public employees. Unfortunately, most of this gear is made in sweatshops by workers forced to work long hours for poverty wages in inhumane conditions. With the global economy reeling, now more than ever our tax dollars should - and can - support higher standards that level the playing field for U.S. workers and support workers around the world organizing for their human rights.

In March 2007, SweatFree Communities convened a historic meeting of human rights activists and public officials who agreed to form the Sweatfree Purchasing Consortium, which will pool resources for factory monitoring and coordinate enforcement of sweatfree purchasing policies.

Join the SweatFree Wisconsin Campaign in thanking Governor Jim Doyle and Secretary of Administration Michael Morgan for taking a big step towards ending tax dollar support for sweatshops by joining the Sweatfree Purchasing Consortium. Join us in showing our support the drafting of a strong statewide policy and ongoing engagement.

Endorse the campaign now!

Wisconsin Background

Wisconsinites have already played a leadership role in the national anti-sweatshop movement. The Milwaukee Clean Clothes Campaign successfully won anti-sweatshop purchasing policies for the City of Milwaukee, County of Milwaukee, and the Milwaukee Public School District, making Milwaukee one of the most "sweatfree" areas in the country.

The City of Milwaukee's 2003 sweatfree ordinance helped advance the sweatfree movement by creating a model for anti-sweatshop policies that includes factory disclosure and paying workers a non-poverty wage.

The City of Madison has also adopted a sweatfree ordinance, and the University of Wisconsin system has been a leader in the student anti-sweatshop movement. 

In July 2008, after the release of the ground-breaking report Subsidizing Sweatshops, Governor Jim Doyle affirmed the work of SweatFree Communities and Wisconsin anti-sweatshop activists. Read Governor Jim Doyle's letter here.

Take Action

1. Email Governor Doyle to thank him and Secretary of Administration Michael Morgan for joining the Sweatfree Purchasing Consortium, and let him know you look forward to Wisconsin adopting a statewide sweatshop-free procurement policy based on Consortium principles. Use this form or send your letter of thanks to:
Governor Jim Doyle
P.O. Box 7863
Madison, WI  53707

Your can also call the Governor's office if you prefer: 608-266-1212


2. Send us a note to let us know that you took action.

3. Spread the word! Ask your friends to take action.

4. Endorse the campaign.

Endorsers

SweatFree Wisconsin endorsers (as of May 6, 2009):

AFSCME Council 40
AFSCME Local 60
Church Women United
Community Action on Latin America (CALA) - Madison
Fair Indigo, Middleton, WI
Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice of South-Central WI
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO
Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition
Milwaukee Clean Clothes Campaign
Pax Christi Madison
Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi
South Central Federation of Labor
UFCW Local 1473 - United Food & Commercial Workers
Union de Trabajadores Inmigrantes
Voces de la Frontera

Add your organization to this growing list by endorsing the campaign now.

 

Media

Resources

>> The policy we hope to pass in Wisconsin
>> Information on the Sweatfree Purchasing 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 Wisconsin Campaign
midwest@sweatfree.org