From: Jesse Kirchner (jessek@u.arizona.edu)
Date: Wed Jun 12 2002 - 16:12:57 EDT
(This sounds really cool until about the second paragraph, when you read
that it requires clothes bought for state employees to be made in the US,
and it requires a "non-poverty" wage level, not a living wage. Still an
interesting event)
McGreevey signs anti-sweatshop order
By THOMAS BARLAS
ATLANTIC CITY - Gov. James E. McGreevey on Tuesday ordered new "procurement"
regulations for New Jersey-bought uniforms and apparel, with union officials
calling the requirements the most sweeping anti-sweatshop rules of any state
government.
An executive order signed by McGreevey during the state AFL-CIO's annual
Legislative/Committee on Political Endorsement Conference at Trump Plaza
Hotel
and Casino here requires all uniforms and other apparel bought by the state
for its employees to be manufactured in the United States.
It requires the factories where the goods are made to meet established safety
and health standards and pay a "non-poverty" wage. Company owners also must
remain neutral should their employees opt to organize.
McGreevey called the requirements outlined in his order something that "should
be required by any decent civilization."
"We understand the reality of sweatshops - children working intolerable hours
in horrible conditions," he told several hundred conference delegates.
State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech said the order doesn't limit state
government uniform and apparel purchases to union firms, but benefits all
American companies that want to do that type of business with the state.
American businesses, including those in New Jersey, can't compete with low
prices set by companies whose expenses are less because they operate sweatshops
in Asia and pay children practically nothing to do the work, he said.
The order also is another payback to New Jersey labor, which played a large
role in McGreevey's successful gubernatorial bid last year.
McGreevey's first executive order, signed shortly after he took office, requires
that project labor agreements be entered into for state projects.
A project labor agreement is a contract between the entity having the work
done and the firm hired to complete the project. The terms of employment
are set beforehand, prohibiting strikes and lockouts.
Critics contend project labor agreements exclude nonunion contractors, and
decrease competition and increase labor costs.
Conference delegates back contract labor agreements, and McGreevey made a
pitch to them on Tuesday to support passage of a bill sponsored by state
Sen.
Stephen Sweeney, D-Salem, Cumberland, Gloucester, that would codify McGreevey's
executive order.
"We need that bill passed in the Legislature," McGreevey said, drawing applause
from the union members in the ballroom.
The order signed Tuesday by McGreevey covers any type of uniform or apparel
bought by the state for its employees.
State Department of Labor Commissioner Al Kroll said he didn't know how much
the state spends annually on uniforms and other apparel.
"That's something I'm going to have to know fairly quickly," he said.
Companies will have to certify that they meet all the requirements, including
the nonpoverty wage standard, something that Kroll said is determined by
a federal Department of Health and Human Services formula.
The order also established an Apparel Procurement Board administered by Kroll.
The board will review complaints against vendors, look for possible violations
and end contracts with venders who don't comply with the just-signed executive
order.
The AFL-CIO conference centers around labor and political activities.
Part of its efforts on Tuesday involved backing McGreevey's plan to build
a new arena in downtown Newark and revitalizing the Meadowlands sports complex.
Union members said McGreevey's plan would create thousands of construction
jobs.
The organization on Tuesday also started what Wowkanech said are efforts
to re-elect U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., who is scheduled to address
the conference this morning. It also made it clear that it will work for
McGreevey's re-election in 2005.
The state AFL-CIO spent the last several years becoming more politically
organized, both in its support of candidates and in getting union members
elected on the state, county and local level. The efforts have resulted in
the election of 174 union members and earned the state organization a national
award for its political involvement program.
While McGreevey and Torricelli both are Democrats, AFL-CIO speakers appeared
a little more generous than usual in their praise of some Republicans.
U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, received a standing ovation from the delegates,
and Wowkanech lauded him for "paying attention to labor."
"I remember every day that you are my friends," LoBiondo said.
State Sen. William Gormley, R-Atlantic, also was warmly received, and said
"bipartisanship" in the Legislature is helping to rebuild Atlantic City.
Political observers consider Gormley a top Republican challenger to McGreevey
in 2005, and he spoke before McGreevey entered the ballroom.
"He heard you were coming and he came right over," Wowkanech told McGreevey.
"He supports labor now?" McGreevey shot back, drawing laughter from many
of the delegates.
LoBiondo is known for his pro boss legislation.
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