Onorato Drops the Ball on PA Human Rights Initiative
Submitted on Sat, 07/11/2009 - 12:14pm
Printed in the July 11, 2009 edition of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Onorato's inaction
When the first agreement consolidating city and county procurement functions was moved in 2004, County Council jumped to ensure that it would not undermine the city's ordinance prohibiting the procurement of apparel made in sweatshops. County Manager Jim Flynn assured council that the administration could implement an effective policy. The Onorato administration has failed to do so.
Proud universities like Carlow, Duquesne and Carnegie Mellon use the same standards as those codified by the county to define sweatshop working conditions and monitor their collegiate licensees. The Pittsburgh Anti Sweatshop Community Alliance has presented worker testimony to the county administration from workers sewing clothes in sweatshops for companies from which the county procures. Some of those companies are Gildan, Hanes and Rocky Brands, and, of course, these companies vigorously reject the validity of their workers' testimony.
The administration of Gov. Ed Rendell has pursued an aggressive enforcement program for his executive order with the same anti-sweatshop procurement mandate. The state Department of General Services is coordinating the purchasing power of local governments around the country and launching a contract with an independent monitor that can utilize the pooled investigatory resources of these governments.
We ask County Executive Dan Onorato to please try to meet the intent of the County Council by working with the state to enforce our ordinance. It accurately reflects our standards for worker rights and the community's desire to leverage its market participation to protect workers. Demonstrate a commitment to human rights and that you would continue with the leadership and persistence shown by the Rendell administration if you were to become governor.
KENNETH MILLER
Co-founder
Pittsburgh Anti Sweatshop Community Alliance
Garfield
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09192/983198-110.stm