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Date of publication: June 15, 2009

Source: Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice Press Release

WHERE:  ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 1175 EAST MAIN STREET
WHEN:  JUNE 16, 2009, MEETING STARTS AT 7PM

Ashland, Oregon-- By adopting a sweatfree resolution in December, 2008 the city council set the stage for Ashland, Oregon to join a cutting-edge movement that is picking up steam and building sweat-free communities all across the country.  For consideration at the Tuesday June 16 city council meeting Ashland proposes  strong policy with the following statement:  The City will use its purchasing procedures and spending authority to promote the improvement of working conditions in the world by avoiding the acquisition of uniform and clothing items that cannot be certifed as being the product of a "sweat free" environment (not the product of sweashop labor as defined in Resolution 2008-45).

Ashland's campaign for the adoption of a sweatshop-free procurement policy has been a project of Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice (SOJwJ).  SOJwJ chair Wes Brain comments: "It has been a year since we started the Ashland Sweatfree Campaign and several things have come together for Ashland to make this choice to move to become sweat-shop free."  Sweatfree Communities is a budding nationwide campaign which has been highlighted in the Pacific Northwest in Portland, Oregon where innovative cutting-edge policy has led the way in the non-sweatshop procurement movement.  Taxpayers in Portland flat out don't like public dollars supporting sweatshops and Ashlanders overwhelmingly agree.  We don't want to purchase cheap garments that are worn by our police and firemen if they are produced in conditions that exploit workers including children and otherwise violate international labor law."

As for the future of the Sweatfree Communites movement in Oregon: The Portland Sweatfree Campaign showed Ashland a vision and provided the boost to become sweatshop-free, and now the Jobs with Justice coalition in Eugene is interested in a campaign, too.  At the same time sweatfree activists are now talking to state government officials about Oregon adopting a sweatshop free procurement policy and following the example of eight other states.  "The movement is taking off like wildfire," states Brain.

Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice has led the Ashland Sweatfree Campaign.  The following campaign committee members are all Ashland residents.  Pam Vavra, Jason Houk, Brenda Gould, Rich Rohde, Steve Ryan, Eric Navickas and Wes Brain.

Queries for additonal information can be made to:
Wes Brain
Chair, Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice
brain(at)mind(dot)net
541-482-6988

or

Brenda Gould
Secretary, Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice
whitebarkpine(at)gmail(dot)com
541-301-3337

BACKGROUND & ADDITIONAL RESOURCE MATERIALS:

Proposed Ashland Administrative Policy, Resolution 2008-45 and "Council Communication" for 6/16/09 meeting

Sweatfree Communites webpage

Photos available upon request