SweatFree MD Campaign Continues On!

As you may remember, we sent a previous action alert requesting that you contact your MD Delegate to let them know you are in favor of a bill that would end the use of taxpayer dollars to purchase uniforms manufactured by companies that exploit women and children.

Since the introduction of HB 290, awareness of the issue has grown and concerned citizens have sent hundreds of postcards and emails and made calls to their legislators in support of the bill. However, the SweatFree Maryland Campaign decided to withdraw the bill for this session because there wasn't enough time for the subcommittee to vote on the bill. We will introduce the bill again next year and in the mean time will hold informational meetings around the state over the next several months, to continue to inform legislators and the public about the issue.

Please take this time to send a note of thanks to the MD Delegates that supported the bill.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Thank You for Supporting the SweatFree MD bill

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I want to thank you for supporting [co-sponsoring] House Bill 290 - Procurement of Apparel - Labor Standards. Although the bill was unable to meet the Committee reporting courtesy deadline, I wanted to let you know just how close we came.

When we first introduced this bill, we were told not to expect much during the first session; that the issue was complicated, and that it might take as long as 3 years to pass such a sweeping bill. Instead, we found a broad base of support from leaders like you who understood immediately that HB 290 was more than just a procurement bill, but that it addressed serious civil and human rights abuses to which the State is an unwitting accomplice.

The support we found for HB 290 exceeded any of the expectations set for it this year, even some of our own. Before the bill was withdrawn, HB had won 13 strong supporters on the House and Government Operations Committee and another 30 delegates from other committees. In addition, the bill received very positive feedback from the Women's Legislative Caucus and members of the New Immigrant Caucus. I strongly believe that if we continue to reach out to legislators over the interim, we will pass a Sweatfree law in Maryland in 2009.

Over the next several weeks, while you are fighting to move our state forward on other important fronts, the Maryland Sweatfree Campaign will begin planning for a summer of educating the public and our elected leaders. I hope that you will be able to join us on our tour around the state to promote this important human rights legislation.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 21, 2008

Background Information

MARYLAND CAN STOP SWEATSHOPS

While working to gain the Governor's support, we will campaign for a sweatfree procurement law in Maryland, which will include the following provisions:

A sweatfree manufacturing code of conduct: All vendors with the state must adhere to local laws and International Labor Organization standards; above-poverty wages; rights to assemble and bargain collectively; non-discrimination; ban on child labor; and safe working conditions.
Disclosure of factory locations and wages: To qualify for a bid, vendors must disclose locations of factories and wages of workers producing goods to be sold to the state.
Collaboration with other states and independent accountability: Join other public purchasers nationwide by pooling resources to investigate labor violations and monitor factories, coordinate enforcement, and buy jointly from sweatfree factories.
Community involvement: Creation of a community advisory committee composed of citizens and worker rights experts to ensure that good intentions are translated into good results.

We are grateful to the sponsor and cosponsors of House Bill 290 for recognizing the injustice that is inherent in the State’s procurement policies and leading the fight to change those policies. We look forward to Maryland joining California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Maine and Pennsylvania among the over 180 states, cities, counties, and school districts nationwide that have adopted sweatfree policies similar to those outlined in HB 290.

The Sweatfree Maryland Campaign (www.sweatfree.org/maryland) is a coalition of religious, civil rights, labor and community organizations and individuals including the Presbytery of Baltimore, SweatFree Communities, International Labor Rights Forum, Maryland DC AFL-CIO, Progressive Maryland and UNITE HERE.