Victory in California Campaigns

Report from No More Sweatshops, a member of SweatFree Communities

Posted March 6, 2005

Good news! Another win for the movement in California and around the country:

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District committed on January 20th to creating a sweat-free procurement policy to cover all goods made and bought for district use, independent monitoring overseas and minimally, non-poverty wages. The resolution was sponsored by board member Oscar De La Torre and promoted by the No More Sweatshops coalition, including supporters: Progressive Jewish Alliance, Rev. Sandie Richards of the church in Ocean Park, Sweatshop Watch, The SMMUSD teachers union and many others.

This latest victory for sweatshop workers comes on the heels of the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation on December 1, 2004. These procurement ordinances prohibit both the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and Pier Corporation from using tax dollars to procure apparel and other goods made under sweatshop conditions, ensuring that items from gym uniforms to sweatshirts with the Pier logo will be sweat-free.

For more information about No More Sweatshops, contact our LA office at 310 559-9522 x 4.