In 2005, San Francisco passed one of the strongest sweat-free purchasing laws in the country. Unfortunately, the Office of Contract Administration (the City's purchasing department) intends to grant a waiver exempting a contractor from the requirements of the law. This exemption would undermine the law and set a bad precedent for all future contracts. Call and email Mayor Newsom TODAY to show your support! Script: Mayor Newsom (415) 554-6141 "My name is and I am calling from ___________. I applaud the Mayor's leadership in passing one of the strongest sweat-free laws in the country. I am appalled, however, that the Director of your purchasing department plans to grant waivers to contractors seeking exemptions from the law. San Francisco should not allow companies that profit from sweatshop labor to undermine the City's sweat-free law. Don't let companies off the hook. Don't grant any exemptions. Thank you."

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

In 2005, San Francisco passed one of the strongest sweat-free purchasing laws in the country. The law prohibits the City from purchasing uniforms, electronics, and other goods made under sweatshop conditions.

Since the law was enacted a year and a half ago, not one contract has been awarded that falls under the auspices of the sweat-free law. Now the Office of Contract Administration (the City's purchasing department) is finally ready to award what would be the first contract covered by the law, but instead, the department intends to grant a special waiver exempting the contractor from the requirements of the law. This blanket exemption would undermine the spirit and intent of the law by effectively gutting the sweat-free ordinance and setting a bad precedent for all future contracts.

It should come as no surprise that in an industry where sweatshops are the norm rather than the exception, apparel companies would be seeking exemptions from the law - essentially admitting that their factories are non-compliant.

What is surprising, however, is San Francisco's willingness to grant special waivers to these companies - sending a clear message that City contractors need not comply with the law. If contractors can force the City to abandon the law at the first sign of trouble, no contractor will ever make a good faith effort to comply with the law - which would effectively gut San Francisco's sweat-free ordinance.

Several other contracts are scheduled to be awarded in the upcoming months, totaling millions of taxpayer dollars. Instead of granting blanket waivers, the City needs to incorporate key provisions of the law into contracts and establish a timetable for contractors to come into compliance with the law. If San Francisco is truly committed to workers' rights then it is imperative that you honor your commitments and enforce your sweatfree ordinance.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
June 08, 2007