Date:
Thu, 16 Oct 2003 08:48:06 -0700 (PDT)
New California Law
Bans Procurement from Sweatshops
Gov. Gray Davis Signs
Landmark Measure in Last Days in Office, Huge Success for Anti-Sweatshop Coalition
LOS
ANGELES. Gov. Gray Davis has signed into law a measure assuring that state-purchased
garments and materials will no longer be produced in sweatshop conditions. The
law mandating "sweat-free" guidelines for state procurement was the
focus of a year-long lobbying effort by grass-roots activists, unions and religious
groups affiliated with the national No More Sweatshops! campaign.
Davis
signed the bill amidst a last-days flurry of measures requiring his signature
or veto. The new law was authored by Sen. Richard Alarcon and Assemblywoman Loni
Hancock.
The new law sets worker protection guidelines for
the procurement of garments, laundering services and other supplies and materials
from contractors and subcontractors wherever they are produced. It authorizes
a phase-in of the "sweat-free" standards to other sectors of state procurement
where evidence of sweatshop conditions are uncovered. The law applies not only
to Sacramento agencies but to public schools and community colleges.
In last-minute negotiations, the governor's office rejected mandating a "living
wage" or "non-poverty" wage for all employees on state contracts.
But the measure goes further in rejecting public subsidies of sweatshop
conditions, and covers more workers, than any other law in the country.
In addition to the new California policy, similar measures are moving forward
before the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Together the package is expected to stimulate procurement
reform in other cities and states, and serve as a model for federal legislation.
Erica Zeitlin
"No More Sweatshops!"
Campaign for the
Abolition of Sweatshops and Child Labor
Tel: (310) 559-9522, Ext. 4.
Fax:
(310) 842-8187.
Web page: www.abolishsweatshops.org
