Pittsburgh, PA Authorizing a Full Audit of Compliance with Anti-Sweatshop Ordinance
Pittsburgh,
PA,
US
Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted in February 2007
Source File: http://www.sweatfree.org/policies/pittsburgh207.pdf
Text:
A Resolution authorizing and directing the Controller of the City of Pittsburgh to conduct a full Performance Audit to assure compliance with Ordinance 32 of 1997 entitled "Title One Administrative, Article VII, Procedures, Chapter 161 Contracts, Section 161.16, Required Provisions in Contracts, to Prevent the purchase, lease, rental or taking on consignment, any goods, or products made under sweatshop conditions.”
WHEREAS, Pittsburgh has a rich history as a city at the forefront of examining the moral issues related to worker treatment in an industrialized economy and as a place where the rights of labor are passionately protected; and
WHEREAS, "sweatshop" conditions, which include poverty wages, forced overtime, unsafe working conditions, firings and blacklisting in response to attempts to organize unions, mandatory pregnancy tests, firings for pregnancy, and other violations of women's rights, are so widespread in the apparel industry that they could be considered the norm and not the exception; and
WHEREAS, there is an "academic standard" of sweatshop accountability supported by over 160 universities nationwide, including Carnegie Mellon University; and
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh, approved legislation on July 11, 2007 that does urge all organizations that are part of the Pittsburgh community to commit themselves to eliminating the use and sale of products that were produced in sweatshop conditions further reinforcing our strong commitment on this issue, and
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh has already adopted sweatshop-free procurement policies, legislation intended to protect the rights of workers which correctly reflect the values of our city; and
WHEREAS, said policies are codified in Ordinance 32 of 1997 entitled "Title One Administrative, Article VII, Procedures, Chapter 161 Contracts, Section 161.16, Required Provisions in Contracts, to Prevent the purchase, lease, rental or taking on consignment, any goods, or products made under sweatshop conditions;” and,
WHEREAS, the Controller of the City of Pittsburgh is charged with auditing City of Pittsburgh compliance with all ordinances; therefore,
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:
Section 1. The Council of the City of Pittsburgh authorizes and directs the Controller of the City of Pittsburgh to conduct a Performance Audit to assure compliance with Title One Administrative, Article VII, Procedures, Chapter 161 Contracts, Section 161.16, Required Provisions in Contracts, to Prevent the purchase, lease, rental or taking on consignment, any goods, or products made under sweatshop conditions.
Section 2. The Controller of the City of Pittsburgh will commence this Performance Audit within 90 days of the passage of this legislation.. The Audit shall be conducted in a timely manner and a report of its findings shall be presented to the Council.