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Date of publication: June 28, 2005

Source: American Chronicle

Author: California Political Desk

Mayor Gavin Newsom and Supervisor Tom Ammiano introduced what would be considered to be the strongest anti-sweatshop legislation in the country in a press conference at San Francisco City Hall today. If passed by the board, the proposed ordinance will become the strongest sweatshop-free legislation and a model that can be adopted by cities throughout the country.

Over the past 6 months, a coalition of 50 labor, faith-based, student and community groups, led by SF human rights organization Global Exchange and former California Senator and New College of California Professor Tom Hayden, encouraged and worked with San Francisco government officials to ensure that the hundreds of millions of tax dollars spent on purchasing annually, whether on fireman’s uniforms, computers for city offices or food in city hospitals, are not supporting sweatshops.

“Sweatshop labor practices- including use of forced and child labor are antithetical to the values of our city and county,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom. “This landmark ordinance takes a strong stand against such labor practices and will place San Francisco at the forefront in ensuring that products purchased by the city are made in safe, humane, and fair workplaces.”

The San Francisco sweatfree legislation includes a sweat-free code of conduct to be signed by all city contractors, subcontractors and vendors. The code of conduct mandates that these companies’ workers are paid a living wage, adjusted by labor market; afforded the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining; and provided with safe working conditions and a non-discriminatory environment. The code of conduct also bans child labor. In order to ensure that good intentions are translated into good results, funding for enforcement by the city as well as by a non-profit, independent monitor will be included in the city’s budget.

Supervisor Tom Ammiano, a strong advocate of the proposed ordinance said, “While other jurisdictions have taken policy positions against sweatshop labor, this proposal represents the nation’s strongest anti-sweatshop law to date.” Ammiano continued, “This legislation exists today because of a historic grassroots effort involving a coalition of over 50 community groups.”

Speakers at the press conference included Mayor Newsom; Supervisor Ammiano; Valerie Orth of Global Exchange; Tom Hayden, former California State Senator and New College of California Professor; and Chie Abad, a former sweatshop worker from Saipan.

The diverse coalition of community groups that worked with the city to draft the ordinance includes Sweatshop Watch, Asian Law Caucus, Progressive Jewish Alliance, UNITE HERE!, the San Francisco Labor Council, Organic Consumers Association, SEIU 790, Chinese Progressive Association, Sisters of the Presentation, The New College Center for Education and Social Action, the Sierra Club, San Francisco Living Wage Coalition, and San Francisco Women’s Political Committee.