Date of publication: April 15, 2005
Source: The Capital Times
Cities across the country have taken steps to stop doing business with firms that deal in goods made in sweatshops, and Madison needs to join the coalition of conscience.
District 8 Ald. Austin King, fresh from his landslide re-election in April 5 local voting, wants the city to set a standard that says no public funds will be used to purchase "goods made under the deplorable, inhumane conditions of a sweatshop."
King The movement seeks to force corporations to stop exploiting workers -- especially children -- in the U.S. and abroad. Noting the positive impact on conditions for workers resulting from decisions by other communities and institutions, including the University of Wisconsin, to reject sweatshop goods, King says that it makes sense for Madison to take a stand.
As King's resolution says, "(Madisonians) have long recognized the importance of international human rights and the continuous struggle for human dignity." With this in mind, the resolution argues that the city should officially recognize "there to be a public interest in avoiding subsidies to vendors and contractors who maintain sweatshop working conditions, including below-subsistence wages; excessively long working hours; unhealthy and unsafe working hours; unhealthy and unsafe working environments; child, indentured, prison and slave labor; disregard for local and international labor laws and workplace regulations; disregard for fundamental women's rights; and repression of workers' rights to assemble and bargain collectively."
King's right. Madisonians have been in the lead of campaigns to promote human rights and workers' rights in El Salvador, East Timor, Burma and other countries around the world. This community has made a long-term commitment to be on the right side of the global debate between irresponsible and abusive corporate power and the needs of workers and their families in the U.S. and abroad. King's proposal ensures that our values are reflected in the decisions made about how to spend our tax dollars.