Tax Dollars Linked to Sweatshops

Our tax dollars are being used to buy products made in sweatshops, according to a new report released on Tax Day 2009 by SweatFree Communities. Findings include severe violations of labor law and human rights in nearly all of the eight factories investigated.

Take action in your state today: Ask your governor to join the Sweatfree Purchasing Consortium -- to support workers' rights and level the playing field for ethical business.

(PS. If you live in Maine or Pennsylvania, go here.)

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Join the Sweatfree Purchasing Consortium

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am shocked to learn that my tax dollars may be supporting sweatshop conditions.

SweatFree Communities' new report, "Subsidizing Sweatshops II: How our tax dollars can foster worker rights and economic recovery rather than fuel the race to the bottom," documents severe labor law and human rights violations in factories producing uniforms and other apparel for state governments.

In light of these findings, I urge you to join the Sweatfree Purchasing Consortium -- and adopt sweatshop-free procurement rules, if these are not already in place.

As a significant consumer in the marketplace, our state can help level the playing field for socially responsible businesses and create significant demand for better working conditions. By requiring vendors to abide by fair labor standards in exchange for public contracts, we can ensure that our tax dollars do not subsidize sweatshops. And, a sweatfree policy is good economic policy for our state because it supports ethical businesses and creates jobs that support families.

Acting on their own, states have limited resources to investigate workers' rights violations, create positive incentive for better working conditions, or verify whether vendors are in fact selling sweatfree goods. The solution is multi-state collaboration.

The Sweatfree Purchasing Consortium is a new and innovative collaborative effort of U.S. governmental entities and human rights advocates. I urge you to join in this important national initiative to end sweatshop labor. For further information, please visit: www.buysweatfree.org.

Thank you for your commitment to good jobs and to ending sweatshop labor.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 17, 2009


Background Information

Subsidizing Sweatshops II, a new report by SweatFree Communities, documents severe violations of labor law and human rights in nearly all of the eight factories investigated, including:

  • Child labor (14 and 15 year olds work in two factories investigated)
  • Poverty wages (only enough to cover 1/4-1/2 of a family’s basic needs)
  • Excessive production quotas (resulting in 12 hour days, coming to work sick, and limits on bathroom usage)
  • Mandatory pregnancy tests (in two factories, as a requirement of employment)
  • Unhealthy work environment (suffocating heat; dust causing chronic respiratory problems; accidents resulting in puncture wounds and losing fingers)
  • Severe repression of union supporters (harassment, intimidation, firings and, in at least one case, blacklisting)

By taking action and sending a letter to ask your governor to join the Sweatfree Purchasing Consortium, you are adding your voice to the movement for workers' rights and global justice, helping reverse the race-to-the-bottom in labor standards.