Date of publication: April 7, 2009
Source: The Oakland Tribune
Author: Doug Oakley
Berkeley is considering a law that prohibits city departments from buying uniforms and other goods from companies that mistreat their workers.
The sweatshop-free ordinance has been three years in the making by two city commissions. It will go before the City Council at its April 21 meeting, said Councilman Kriss Worthington.
The same law went before the City Council about a year ago, but was sent back to Berkeley's Commission on Labor and the Peace and Justice Commission for a rewrite after city staff objected, saying it would cost the city too much to buy from reputable garment factories and there would be too much paperwork involved, said Worthington...