December 17th, 2008
Last night, Olympia’s City Council voted unanimously in favor of joining the Sweatfree Consortium
The State and Local Government Sweatfree Consortium is a collaborative effort of U.S. states, local governments, school districts, and human rights advocates to ensure that we do not
spend tax dollars on uniforms and other products made in sweatshops.
The Consortium will pool resources for investigations and monitoring of supplier factories and coordinate the implementation and enforcement of sweatfree standards to ensure compliance with codes of conduct established by states and localities. The Consortium will begin working in the apparel sector, and consider expanding its scope to other industries where sweatshops are of concern.
The Sweatfree Campaign in Olympia was organized by The South Sound Clean Clothes Campaign, to which Marigold is a member. The Campaign is a coalition of Olympia, Tumwater, and Lacey students, union members, people of faith, and concerned citizens raising awareness about the sweatshop industry, and challenging individuals as well as public and private institutions to create positive change by altering their purchasing practices. Since 2000, SSCCC has been active in organizing numerous events such as an annual anti-sweatshop film festival, press conferences, informational meetings and events. SSCCC will continue to work closely with the City Council as an information resource and to assist in guiding the Council as they work with the Consortium.
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December 10th, 2008
On Tuesday, Dec 16th, Olympia’s City Council will vote whether or not to join over 180 states, cities, counties, and school districts in the United States that have adopted sweatfree procurement policies, requiring vendors and supplier factories to abide by labor and human rights standards in return for public contracts to supply uniforms and other products. Since it would be challenging for these entities to have the resources to conduct investigations and monitoring of facotories on their own outside their juridictions, the Consortium was created to pool resources for independent investigations and monitoring of supplier factories and coordinate the implementation and enforcement of sweatfree standards to ensure compliance with codes of conduct established by states and localities.
The positive impact of each city’s sweatfree policies is maximized by collaborating across jurisdictional boundaries. By consolidating our purchasing power and coordinating enforcement, our cities can better assure that anti-sweatshop policies achieve their intent.
– Mayor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco
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November 14th, 2008
This week marks the second film in our film festival.
We are showing Made in LA (a 2008 Emmy Award Winner) with Almundena Carrecedo, Director, Producer, Writer and Cinematographer and Robert Bahar, Producer, Co-Writer in attendance!
This feature event of our festival not only includes the showing of this award winning film but a discussion with the filmmakers. The documentary itself focuses on the story of three immigrant workers Lupe, Maria and Maura, as they toil 14 hours a day in a garment factory in LA for a sub-contractor who avoids minimum wage laws or a safe working environment. Acceptance of these conditions changes as activists from the Garment Worker’s Center help them to organize and challenge the large retailer whose clothes they sew. Both drama and humor weave this true tale into a powerful story. “An excellent documentary…about basic human dignity” New York Times. “A rousing true story of solidarity, perseverance, and triumph” Variety.
Film begins at 7, discussion to follow. Location: Traditions Fair Trade, Olympia, WA. Read the rest of this entry »
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October 14th, 2008
Rosy is one of the co-op’s longest members! She first learned to sew and embroider making children’s toys. As her skills developed over the years, she was given the position of coordinator of the training center. Now Rosy is a quality checker, responsible for making sure that Marigold’s products are of the highest quality. Rosy talks about her experience over the years:
“It’s hard to imagine when I think back. Before, no one (in my household) was listening to me. Now if there is an issue and I am not there, they wait for me to hear what I have to say. I feel as if I am an independent woman taking care of my family and children. I feel as if the co-op has given me a platform on which to stand”
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September 29th, 2008
This week Beth presented on fair trade and our women’s co-op at Fair Trade Craft’s~ Fair Trade and Fashion Show. Here models show off our new Fall/Winter Line!
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