SF SWEATFREE CAMPAIGN BEGINS!

Dear Bay Area Anti-Sweatshop Activists,

Former state Sen. Tom Hayden wrote the exciting announcement below. Please
contact Valerie Orth, Sweatshop Free Campaigns Organizer at Global Exchange,
if you are interested in getting involved in SweatFree Bay Area campaign on
any level. She can be reached at 415-558-6938 or valerie [at] globalexchange.org.

In solidarity,
Global Exchange SweatFree Team

MAYOR NEWSOM SIGNALS INTEREST IN MODEL SWEATFREE ORDINANCE,
OTHER BAY AREA GOVERNMENTS COULD FOLLOW


SAN FRANCISCO. Mayor Gavin Newsom has directed San Francisco procurement
officials to begin crafting a sweatfree approach to the city/county¹s
purchasing procedures. Initial talks between anti-sweatshop advocates and
local officials began this week, and could affect as much as one billion
dollars yearly in total purchasing decisions. Campaigners are planning to
lobby the Board of Supervisors next month.

After meeting last month with former state Sen. Tom Hayden, a director of No
More Sweatshops, Mayor Newsom promised to assign administration officials to
begin the dialogue. Taking part in this week¹s follow-up discussions with
procurement officials were Sen. Hayden, Global Exchange¹s Valerie Orth and
UNITE/HERE¹s Jason Oringer. The New College will sponsor weekly workshops on
local activism and the global economy by Sen. Hayden which are expected to
recruit a network of interns as well. Also involved in the growing drive is
the Oakland Institute under the direction of Anuradha Mittal.

With its progressive culture and status, San Francisco could establish the
best standards and enforcement in the country so far, and be a model for the
entire Bay Area. Initial discussions with Berkeley and Oakland officials
already have begun.

Momentum for the Bay Area initiative has increased since passage of a
landmark ordinances by the Los Angeles city council and board of education
earlier this year. #

--
Global Exchange Sweatshop-Free Campaigns
valerie [at] globalexchange.org 415-558-6938
http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/sweatshops
2017 Mission Street #303, San Francisco, CA 94110

IMPORTANT HOLIDAY SHOPPING NOTICE! Remember to shop for sweatshop-free and
Fair Trade products! Visit Global Exchange's Fair Trade stores on-line and
retail in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Portland http://www.globalexchangestore.org

Global Exchange is a non-profit research, education, and action center
working for political, economic, environmental, and social justice on a
global scale. We work to increase international awareness among the U.S.
public emphasizing struggles for peace, justice, and equality while building
meaningful international partnerships