Sweatfree Schools Campaign

What We've Learned - 1998-2000

The New York State Labor-Religion Coalition launched the Sweatfree Schools Campaign in 1998 and scheduled its completion in 2001.

The Campaign is going strong. Because the Coalition has received numerous requests for guidance to start local initiatives, we created an Interim Report on the campaign's progress with a view towards putting into effect lessons learned thus far.

The New York State Labor-Religion Coalition is a human rights organization focusing on workplace issues, especially those that concern low wage workers and their families. The Coalition is dismayed by the proliferation of sweatshops in this country and abroad, and the unabated use of workers in servitude, including children.

PURPOSE

The Sweatfree Schools Campaign is aimed at raising the public's awareness about the predominant use of sweatshop and child labor in the apparel industry, especially for clothing used in schools, such as school uniforms and logo-bearing items.

The Campaign recommends that school boards adopt policies barring the purchase of school apparel made under those conditions, and encourages local groups to organize and advocate for adoption of these policies.

The campaign also engages students in asking who makes the clothes they wear and under what conditions. It offers teachers an opportunity to deal with ethical values in the classroom when studying history, social studies, art, and other disciplines.

IMPACT

What seems clear at this point is that the Campaign has engaged thousands of people in the state. The New York Sweatfree Schools Campaign has received much publicity through stories in the media and with appearances by Coalition volunteers and staff in classrooms, teacher meetings, conferences, and other events throughout the state. Different groups in the state have taken up the issue of advocating for "clean clothes" in the schools, that is, clothes not made by children or sweat labor.

Many have endorsed the campaign, from public and non-public school districts to teacher and religious groups (see list at the end of this Report).

Many more are at different stages of organizing their own local campaigns. These efforts include single individuals who write to their school board members urging that the school board take on the issue. They also involve small groups of parents, teachers and students developing strategies to get the attention of their school boards. There are groups of faculty and college students on campuses asking their administrations to stop contracting with sweatshop-using vendors for the making of clothes bearing the college's or university's logo.

And other groups, in their own ways, are taking steps to challenge the pervasive, and often unthinking, use of school apparel made by sweatshop and child labor. (A partial list of ongoing efforts is at the end of this Report).

As the U.S. public becomes more aware that the clothes they wear are made in exploitative conditions and often with child labor, New York's sweatfree schools initiative has gained national significance. The New York State Labor-Religion Coalition's Sweatfree Schools Campaign has drawn the attention of out-of-state organizations and individuals. For example, it has inspired the establishment of the Minnesota Sweatfree Schools Campaign and gained support of the National Education Association.

The New York Sweatfree Schools Campaign was featured by the Child Labor Coalition, a national organization, at its biannual meeting in June 2000 during an event hosted by Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C..

ACTIVITY ON UUP CAMPUSES

The United University Professions(UUP)included in spring semester 2000 a short questionnaire on sweatfree topics in its publication geared for union leadership. The questionnaire, produced with the aid of the Coalition, aimed to identify what State University of New York campuses are actively involved in sweatfree issues.

A college student intern with the Labor Religion Coalition received confirmation from those listed below that faculty, staff and students are involved at some level in the sweatfree movement. This involvement varies from official task forces that bring together a wide spectrum of campus representatives to campus-based organizing efforts, informal meetings and teach-ins.

SUNY Plattsburgh, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Genesse, SUNY New Paltz
SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Albany

Because the State University of New York comprises the nation's largest system of public institutions of higher education, it is important to know to what degree these campuses are attuned to and active in sweatfree issues. At present, anti-sweatshop activities stand at the center of the nation's renewed student movements. Universities and colleges are seeing vigorous interest on social and ethical issues on the part of students and other constituencies.

Consequently, as a first step, institutions across the nation are taking action to ensure that clothing and items bearing their logos are not produced by child or sweatshop labor. Leadership is being provided by large institutions, such as the University of California System and the University of Notre Dame, and by smaller ones, such as New York's Bard College and College of St. Rose. Groups, such as United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) and the Workers Rights Consortium (WRC) are mobilizing students and faculties; in turn, these are pressuring their institutions to deepen their commitment to the ethical implications of maintaining a system built on sweatshops and child labor.

LESSONS LEARNED

In a survey conducted in 2000 by the Sweatfree Schools Campaign of different local groups engaged in the Campaign, organizers had this to say:

On The Most Surprising Thing Learned

On Achievements, Small or Large

"Achieving resolutions from Board of Education, Parent Teachers Association, and Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)."

"Signatures by 30+ parents; got to address many people on the need for sweatfree schools."

"Education of two classes of students via lectures, discussions and videotapes."

"We have given many presentations to school groups and we have the support of our Bishop, the Superintendent of Catholic Schools, and most of the principals of these schools."

"Catholic Schools and [local] schools endorsement."

"Three of our schools are compliant regarding vendors."

"Public Education through the media and various constituencies--students, labor, religious community."

On Stumbling Blocks and Handling Them

"The Board needed more information--for example, 'Who will we use and what is the impact on how we do business?' Our strategy? We'll help in solving problems and not asking them to commit beyond their means."

"Can't get the [local] teachers association president to take a stand; may use the teacher's union [which endorsed the campaign] to prod this person along."

"Getting the issue high enough on people's busy agendas to have them take the time needed to pursue this goal."

"Bad timing on our part--students graduated before school board decided to act."

"There are not enough purchasing alternatives known to us as consumers."

On What to Say to Others Starting Their Campaign

"This is a campaign that takes persistence. Purchasing habits are very ingrained and alternatives for sweatfree purchasing do not seem readily available....An important goal for becoming sweatfree institutions is that this can be publicly declared to the press and public officials, so that the issue gets heightened visibility to the public at large."

"When issue is explained and fear of major cost is dismissed, support is there."

"The process takes time. People don't get inclined to move on an issue that doesn't affect their 'backyards'."

"The necessity of laying the groundwork--bringing in all the necessary partners, building the working relationships, finding the political officials who are allies at the onset of the campaign, launch and keep the pressure/interest up."

". . . that the present clothing industry is in fact a global sweatshop experience even in our own country. We must keep educating and putting pressure on large companies."

"Work with students and concentrate on the fact that the only way to improve things is to shed light on this very difficult industry to reform."

THE STUDENT POSTER CONTEST 2000

As part of its project, the Sweatfree Schools Campaign conducted its first annual poster contest among students attending public and non-public schools.

Open to K through 12 grade students, the contest was announced in the fall of 1999 with a deadline in February 2000. New York State teachers were asked to nominate posters made by students at their schools dealing with the theme: How does child labor and sweatshops affect you and your school? Thousands of students took part in the preliminary activities of the contest in their schools. New York State teachers sent in nomination more than 200 student entries for final judging.

The poster contest is being underwritten by the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT). NYSUT awarded savings bonds to the eight students who achieved first or second place in four grade categories.

The posters of the first-place winners were displayed for a week in June 2000 in the rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington D.C. as part of an exhibit on child labor.

New York City's United Federation of Teachers (UFT) also awarded prizes of savings bonds to New York City students who were selected as first and second prize winners among the entries from City schools. The posters of these winners, as well as those of the statewide winners and other poster entries, were exhibited at the Bread and Roses Gallery (a project of SEIU 1199) on West 43rd Street during the week of September 25, 2000.

Since those who have seen the posters have acclaimed the artwork of the student artists, the Coalition is making available, for a contribution, copies of the first-prize winning poster in the 10-12 grade category and note cards featuring the wining posters.

An exhibit of these posters is available to travel. Anyone wishing to host an exhibit in places such as community centers, libraries, places of worship, schools and universities, work settings, and other similar places may contact the Coalition.

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD

During this campaign, three issues have emerged as the most challenging:

There are few options for purchasing full uniforms for K-12 students that come from entirely sweatfree sources. Local organizers discovered that parts of the uniform were produced off-shore and that they had no way of ascertaining under what conditions these items were manufactured.

There is no easy way to divide vendors into "good guys" and "bad guys."
While everyone asks for such a list, the reality with manufacturers and apparel vendors is far more entangled. The apparel industry is best seen as a continuum, with some companies taking more seriously than others the treatment of workers and issues such as safety, fairness, and wages. A useful approach in talking about this industry may be borrowed from Co-op America Quarterly which describes companies as being in the bottom rung, middle rung, or top rung of the ladder of social responsibility.

There is as yet no widespread political support for confronting the issue of sweatshop and child labor if it means upsetting the way contracts are being bid in the state. By law, state entities such as public schools, City University of New York, and State University of New York, must take "the lowest responsible bidder" on contracts for which bidding is required. At least nine anti-sweatshop bills have been introduced in the New York State Legislature. Several of these bills were given some consideration by the Legislature, among them one to modify municipal law that would have targeted bidders using sweatshop-generated products. UPDATE: The NYS Senate and Assembly passed legislation removing this barrier! On Labor Day, September 3, 2001, governor George Pataki signed Sweatfree Schools legislation into law.

If challenges are conceived as opportunities, then those who back the Sweatfree Schools Campaign may consider any or all of the following actions:

1. Keep informed. Read, watch, and listen to reports on sweatshops and child labor. The National Labor Committee and UNITE, the union of needletrades, industrial and textile employees, have publications with specific information on who is using sweatshop labor, where these factories are, and what is being manufactured. The web sites of USAS, United Students Against Sweatshops, and the WRC, the Workers Rights Consortium, offer information. Our own web site will soon be bringing more timely information about the anti-sweatshop movement and links to other useful sites.

Television magazines such as Sixty Minutes continue to present stories about the issue. Videos, by groups such as the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), provide information that may be used for instructional purposes. Newsletters, such as the one published by The Child Labor Coalition in Washington, D.C.

In whatever way is best for you, find out about these issues.

2. Tell your retailers and vendors. When you are in a store that sells goods manufactured with sweatshop or child labor, tell the manager that you will not purchase that particular item and why. When purchasing something with a label that is reputed to be the product of good working conditions, tell the manager that you are doing so because you are a consumer who pays attention to that. You don't have to do this each and every time, but when you have a little extra time, let retailers know what is important to you. Would you have knowingly purchased materials produced from Holocaust victims? Tell your vendors that you want products that have been produced in fair working conditions.

Ask your vendors to abide by a code of conduct , and show your willingness to help them achieve sweatfree status.

3. Pay living wages. If you are an employer, pay a living wage to your employees. It may be less costly than you think. Find out about economic studies on living wages and discover how such a step will impact you. You will realize that this decision is more than an economic decision; the effects will be felt beyond the dollars and cents. Be a factor in heightening the quality of life in your community and in bringing workers and their families to self sufficiency.

4. Organize. Two or three informed and caring people can accomplish much. Get a small group working on finding solutions and prepared yourself to be energized. There are many such efforts going on in the state, and most of them involve individuals of different generations, from teenagers to Boomers to the Second World War generation. Make presentations before school boards; ask them for resolutions endorsing the campaign , or encourage them to set up subcommittees to review the issues and come up with a resolution. Contact your state legislators (Senator and Assemblyperson) and ask what they will be doing during the next session to adopt anti-sweatshop legislation. Write to the editor of your local paper,or better, call him or her and ask for stories on these issues. Explain that you are astonished more stories and commentaries are not appearing on the issues of sweatshops, child labor, corporate globalization and a living wage. Join with students at your local college or university to become more knowledgeable about these issues and to build coalitions for strategic actions.

Finally, support the New York State Labor-Religion Coalition's work with your contribution. Contributors receive regular information about events and developments, but as important, you will know that you are advancing the advocacy of sweatfree schools. Our phone number is 518-213-6000, ext.6305, if you'd like to discuss different ways of contributing.

Endorsers of Sweatfree Schools Campaign as of October 2000
Suffolk County
United University Professions
National Education Association of New York
Board of Education, City Schools of Albany
Board of Education, Central Islip Public Schools
Board of Education, Patchogue Medford Union Free School District
Albany Roman Catholic Diocesan Schools
Fulton Teachers Association
Troy School District
Justice and Peace Advisory Council
Westhill District Education Association
Port Jefferson teachers Association
Buffalo Roman Catholic Diocesan Schools
Board of Education, Hamburg School District
Nassau BOCES Central Council of Teachers
Statewide Senior Action Council
Western New York Peace Center
Newburgh Teachers Association
NYSUT Retirees of Western New York
Central Trades and Labor Council of the counties of Jefferson, Lewis and Lawrence (submitted by UUP Chapter)
Central Islip PTA Council
Niskayuna Central School District
New York State Division of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, (representing 48 congregations)
University at Albany Student Association
College of St. Rose, Albany
Civil Service Association (CSEA)--State Affiliate

Organizing Efforts in Progress, October 2000
Three Village School district, parents group
Northport School District, high school students, teachers, parents
Great Neck High School, teachers and students
Suracuse University, students
Guilderland School district, grassroots group
Saugerties School District, students and grassroots group
State University of New York, various initiatives by students, faculty and others
University at Albany, student-faculty efforts led to Presidential Task Force
St. John's University, administration
Schenectady Schools, grassroots group
Cincinnatus Schools, students and teachers

Interim Report by Laudelina Martinez

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