Resolution 2010 - 20 Sweatshop policy

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RESOLUTION 2010 — 20 A Resolution Establishing A Policy Of Sweatshop Free Uniform Procurement WHEREAS, there is ample documentation showing that abusive sweatshop conditions and practices are widespread in the global garment industry, including serious violations of the wage, health and safety laws of relevant jurisdictions, repeated violations of the core labor rights as defined by the International Labor Organization, as well as the universally condemned practices of forced labor and indentured child labor; and WHEREAS, indiscriminate buying of uniforms by public agencies from vendors at the very end of the garment supply chain easily can and frequently does result in the purchase of uniforms produced in sweatshops, with the unintended consequence that public money is (1) indirectly supporting the illegal activity of sweatshops, (2) giving unfair advantage to sweatshops users who can offer products at lower costs than operators who respect the rights of workers and, further, (3) helping to perpetuate the cycles of poverty, deprivation and poor health where sweatshops dominate local economies, thus promoting further social instability; and WHEREAS, the University City procurement staff currently uses generalized guidelines for buying (namely, if quality and price of products, and the reliability and integrity of the vendors are roughly equal, preference is given to buying products that are "green" from bidders who are "local"); there are no detailed disclosure requirements for vendors who are awarded the annual contract for the University City's uniforms that attempts to document where and under what workplace conditions and labor practices the uniforms are being produced; and WHEREAS, the average annual expenditure in the City the last three years for "Clothing Allowance" was approximately $31,000, and the average annual expenditure in the last three years for "Wearing Apparel" was approximately $94,000; thus about $125,000 annual spending by University City is potentially at risk of supporting a sweatshop operation somewhere in the world-a situation the Council finds unacceptable and in F' need of remedy; and WHEREAS, the City likely will spend in Fiscal 2011 almost $1 million on "Commodities," some of which may originate in sweatshops; and WHEREAS, about 180 states, counties, cities, schools and other public agencies in the United States have taken steps to begin sweatshop free buying, the Sweatshop-Free initiative stands in need of highly visible and credible leadership among public entities in Missouri and Illinois, as well as nationally, which leadership this City desires to provide and is capable of providing;