SweatFree Communties:

U.S. network for local action against sweatshops

	SweatFree Communities Introduction Who We Are What We Do Building SweatFree Communities

SweatFree Communities is a national network of activists in the U.S. who are working in their own communities to pass initiatives against sweatshops. As part of this effort, local groups across the country are persuading religious congregations, school districts, and city, county, and state governments to adopt sweatfree purchasing policies - an approach similar to United Students Against Sweatshops' work on college campuses.

CAMPAIGNS TO GROW ON

SweatFree Communities initiatives build and grow local anti-sweatshop activism because they allow local activists to control the shape and timing of their efforts. This activism can then expand over time because most communities include multiple entities that purchase apparel goods - a city, its suburbs, its county, the school district, the state, religious institutions, etc. - and may also house workplaces where members of the community endure sweatshop conditions. One successful campaign can provide momentum for another.

BUILDING A NETWORK

Local and statewide groups in Minnesota, Maine, New York, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Washington are the driving force behind this new network. Many of them have already had some success with anti-sweatshop work in their schools, counties, cities, states, and more. These groups have asked Campaign for Labor Rights to help coordinate the emergence of SweatFree Communities on a national level and to reach out to local activists who are doing (or are interested in doing) similar work in their communities.

Our network has grown to over 30 local groups. These groups are sharing information, resolution language, strategy, and resources through a series of conference calls and an email listserve. We have also created a thirty page "how to" packet and tool kit to help new groups get started on initiatives in their own communities.

GET INVOLVED

If you would like to become involved in this effort, go to the SweatFree Communities web site.