Portland passes first ‘sweatshop free’ ordinance in the Pacific NW

The Portland City Council voted 4-0 on Oct. 15 in favor of a “sweatshop free” ordinance that establishes a code of conduct for garment workers who make uniforms for city police, firefighters and other uniform-wearing public employees.

The ordinance requires the city to purchase uniforms and other apparel only from suppliers that disclose the locations of their manufacturing facilities and that have established minimum labor standards, including working hours, child labor and humane treatment, and wages.

Portland spends nearly $2 million a year on such apparel.

“Whether it is responding to emergencies or working to prevent them, we are committed to public safety,” said Portland firefighter Ed Hall, who was a member of the Portland Sweatfree Policy Drafting Committee. “So it is important to me that the uniform I wear is made by a company that shares these values and is committed to safe, decent working conditions and fair wages.”

Portland is the first city in the Pacific Northwest to adopt such a policy.

The policy has been promoted by the Portland Sweatfree Campaign, with strong support from organized labor.

While the new policy covers only apparel, City Commissioner and Mayor-elect Sam Adams expressed his intention to eventually expand the policy to cover many other items the city purchases. “This is a start,” he said.

Commissioner Randy Leonard, a former president of Fire Fighters Local 43, expressed particular appreciation for the policy’s recognition of workers’ rights to free association and collective union bargaining.

Commissioners Nick Fish and Dan Saltzman also supported the ordinance. Mayor Tom Potter was absent.

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