From: Allie Robbins (peaceout@gwu.edu)
Date: Tue Aug 13 2002 - 09:55:32 EDT
>===== Original Message From Martha Schultz <marthas@labor-religion.org> =====
Hello, Allie. This is Martha Schultz at our new office in Albany. The NY
governor signed an anti-sweatshop bill last week! It means that all public
colleges in NYS are authorized to pass sweatfree policies. I know you are in
the midst of a national gathering. We'd love it if you could spread the good
news before the new school begins.
I'm attaching and pasting below an AP article about the new law. I hope the
conference is exciting and productive.
Martha
NYS Labor-Religion Coalition
800 Troy-Schenectady Road
Latham, NY 12110-2455
518/ 213-6000, ext. 6294
fax 518/ 213-6414
www.labor-religion.org
Governor signs anti-sweatshop law
--------------------
By MICHAEL GORMLEY
Associated Press Writer
August 8, 2002, 4:09 PM EDT
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Signing this bill was no sweat.
Gov. George Pataki this week signed without ceremony bill S7791-A that allows
the State University of New York and the City University of New York to refuse
to sell clothing made in so-called sweatshops even if they carry the lowest
price. The factories outside the United States employ men, women and children
for long hours at low pay to produce high priced sports apparel popular at
campus stores.
And while much of what is made law in Albany can be arcane or bitterly
partisan, all sides said the sweatshop law makes a philosophical statement as
much as it tries to regulate a market.
"To me it's a statement that society makes, particularly when it involves the
education of children, that there are values other than monetary," said
Assemblyman John McEneny, an Albany Democrat. He supported the bill and was a
sponsor of its predecessor last year that allowed school districts to say no
to sweatshop products even if they are part of the lowest bid. Public agencies
are usually required to accept the lowest bid on such contracts.
"I think it's very, very important to lead by example and if there's one thing
children can spot maybe faster than adults it's hypocrisy," McEneny said.
"I think it was probably the best piece of labor legislation to come out of
the session," said State Sen. Guy Velella, a Bronx Republican and co-sponsor
of the bill. "It really makes a very, very positive statement that we aren't
going to allow state agencies to be supportive of products that come from
sweatshops."
The bill also creates the "Sept. 11 Bidders Registry," which gives purchasing
preferences for contracts with SUNY, CUNY, state and local governments to
apparel firms affected by the terrorist attack in lower Manhattan. The
preference will be extended to the firms even if their bid is as much as 15
percent above the lowest bidder.
"This bill was supported both by labor unions and many of the textile and
apparel companies who were devastated by the attacks on Sept. 11," said Joseph
Conway, spokesman for the Republican governor. "The new law recognizes the
tremendous economic impact of the attacks and will help both workers and
businesses."
Campuses this fall will be able to debate whether to impose bans on sweatshop
products. That's likely to ignite further student involvement in the issue
that has been pushed by students nationwide in recent years.
"This law at this time, just before the fall semester, gives an ethical
imperative to New York's 83 public colleges," said Brian O'Shaughnessy of the
New York State Labor-Religion Coalition that lobbied for the bill. The
coalition is working with activists in eight other states from Maine to
Florida that have closely watched the progress of New York's bill.
"This really makes a strong statement to business that New York will no longer
be a silent accomplice to the world's exploitation of children, women and men
workers."
Copyright (c) 2002, The Associated Press
--------------------
This article originally appeared at:
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--sweatshopproducts0808aug08.story
Visit Newsday online at http://www.newsday.com
United Students Against Sweatshops
888 16th Street NW Suite 303
Washington, DC 20006
202-NO-SWEAT
www.usasnet.org
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