Fair Trade Morning Perk: Sweatfree Policy Passes Unanimously in Portland

by Zarah Patriana · 2008-10-17 07:10:00 UTC
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With all the doom and gloom you've been reading lately in your morning news, I will offer you these 'Morning Perks' about recent Fair Trade related victories, or any other feel good news in the movement that will go along with your morning Fair Trade coffee. Good Morning, there is justice in the world!

I recently told you about the Portland, Oregon Sweatshop-Free Campaign and the City's resolution to only purchase uniforms and clothing that were made under sweat-free conditions. Well, this Wednesday, October 15th, the city council came together to vote and the Portland Sweatshop Free Purchasing Policy passed unanimously. Here is a note from our Sweatfree Campaign friends in Portland:

[Wednesday's] Portland City Council meeting saw a huge victory for workers rights! Thanks to the collective effort of all sweatfree supporters who fought to make sure their tax dollars do not support sweatshops, the City of Portland has resoundingly supported the passage of the Portland Sweatshop Free Purchasing Policy. This policy is a strong tool for supporting garment workers by requiring contractors to ensure freedom of association and just cause termination as well as prohibiting "cut and run" practices that that allow contractors to dodge responsibly for worker rights violations in an industry where countries compete fiercely by promoting cheap labor and lax environmental regulations.

Portland is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability initiatives and has taken responsible purchasing to the next level by ensuring public employee uniforms are made under humane conditions including a ban on child labor, no forced overtime, non-poverty wages, the right to join a union and an end to discriminatory firings. To ensure this policy moves beyond good intention, the city has established the Portland Sweatshop Free Oversight Committee, comprised of over 50% worker rights experts to take on the next steps in implementing the policy.

We expect that this will be the first in a series of victories in the Northwest as a groundswell of sweatfree campaigns organize to make their cities and states sweatshop free!

Congratulations to Portland. It's a great victory not only for Portland, but also for workers all over.

Zarah Patriana
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