HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-45 Sweatshop Free Procurement Policy
RESOLUTION NO. 2008- LtS
A RESOLUTION FOR A SWEATSHOP FREE PROCUREMENT POLICY
Recitals:
A. The City spends approximately, $85,000 annually in public funds on uniforms and
clothing.
B. Some vendors of uniforms and clothing obtain clothing through their supply chain from
contractors that utilize sweatshop labor.
C. "Sweatshop Labor" means serious and repeated violations of laws of the jurisdiction
where the work is performed or violations of core labor rights as defined by the International
Labor Organization pertaining to non-poverty wages; employee benefits; health and safety,
including exposure to hazardous toxic substances; labor, including collective bargaining
rights; environmental conditions; nondiscrimination, harassment or retaliation, including laws
prohibiting workplace and employment discrimination; freedom of association, and building
and fire codes. In addition, it includes work performed by any person under a contract or
subcontract that constitutes foreign convict or forced labor or abusive forms of child labor or
slave labor.
D. Contractors who engage in such serious and repeated violations are not "responsible"
contractors as defined by ORS 279C.375(3) because such contractors do not have a
satisfactory record of performance or a satisfactory record of integrity.
E. The City does not wish to purchase goods and services that depend on sweatshop
conditions that deprive people of their legal rights and dignity.
F. The City Council wishes to ensure that the firms it contracts with to provide uniforms
and clothing act with integrity and follow applicable local laws of the country of production and
International Labor Organization standards, and that other subcontractors in the uniform and
clothing supply chain also act with integrity and follow the local labor laws and International
Labor Organization standards (hereafter referenced as "Sweat Free Procurement").
G. The City Council wishes to ensure the integrity of its procurement process by not using
contractors or subcontractors who engage in Sweatshop Labor practices. Such practices
place responsible contractors at a competitive disadvantage and dissuade them from doing
business with the City.
H. By adopting this resolution, the City Council does not preclude the City or its
contractors or subcontractors from doing business with any foreign country.
I. Sweat Free procurement is a form of ethical purchasing.
J. There is a proposed State and Local Government Sweatfree Consortium that would
investigate and address working conditions of uniform and clothing suppliers' factories
through worker outreach and education, independent monitoring of working conditions, and
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by leveraging buying power on behalf of government entities affiliated with the Consortium.
THE CITY OF ASHLAND RESOLVES AS FOllOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council wishes to create and implement a detailed Sweat Free
Uniform and Clothing Procurement Policy.
SECTION 2. City staff will develop a policy for City Council approval within six months.
SECTION 3. The City supports the creation of the State and local Government Sweat Free
Consortium to collaborate with other public agencies to share information and cost of
independent monitoring of working conditions in supplier factories. The City Council intends
on becoming a member of this Consortium after it is created.
SECTION 6. This resolution was duly PASSED and ADOPTED this 16th day of December,
2008, nd takes effect upon signing by the Mayor.
Barbara Christensen, City Recorder
SIGNED and APPROVED this ~ day of j}~, 2008.
c.
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