Advocacy group withdraws sweatshop bill
Sensing failure, the Maryland Sweatfree Campaign withdrew legislation that would have stopped state expenditures on uniforms "manufactured by companies that exploit women and children," according to a statement the group released this morning.
In the waning days of the legislative session, many groups and lawmakers prefer to keep a bill from being voted upon rather than see it killed, since once legislators cast their vote one way it is usually an uphill battle to get them to change their minds. Many bills eventually meet this fate, including one recently withdrawn by Del. Curt Anderson that would have taken a step back from the get-tough policies of the drug war.
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Time Runs Out for Maryland Sweatshop Bill
Supporters Vow to Continue Fight to End State Sponsorship of Sweat Shops
Annapolis, MD – The Maryland Sweatfree Campaign withdrew legislation that would end the use of taxpayer dollars to purchase uniforms manufactured by companies that exploit women and children, citing a crowded docket and the looming Committee reporting deadline as obstacles to the bills passage. According to Maryland law, all legislation must make it through the referred House Committee by March 19. Bills that do not meet the deadline have little chance of being passed before the end of session on April 7, 2008.
House Bill 290, also known as the Sweatshop Bill, was introduced in January by Del. Joanne Benson (D – Prince Georges) and cosponsored by more than a dozen legislators from across the state. “This is an enormously important bill,” said Del. Joanne Benson, lead sponsor of the Sweatshop bill. “We may have run out of time this year, but I am extremely optimistic about passing this law in the next session.”
Members of the Maryland Sweatfree Campaign echoed Benson’s optimism. “This bill started with a few committed legislators, but as we’ve spoken to leaders in Annapolis about the issue, support for the bill has grown exponentially,” said Charly Carter of UNITE HERE. “We hope to spend the interim educating legislators and the administration and building our coalition.”
“Using public money to subsidize the exploitation of workers is wrong, whether those workers are here or abroad. We are grateful to the sponsor and cosponsors of House Bill 290 for recognizing the injustice that is inherent in the State’s procurement policies and leading the fight to change those policies. We look forward to Maryland joining California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Maine and Pennsylvania among the over 180 states, cities, counties, and school districts nationwide that have adopted sweatfree policies similar to those outlined in HB 290.” said Deb Milcarek, Associate for Mission and Justice of the Presbytery of Baltimore.
Since the introduction of HB 290, awareness of the issue has grown and concerned citizens have sent hundreds of postcards and made calls to their legislators in support of the bill. The Maryland Sweatfree Campaign pledged to hold informational meetings around the state over the next several months, to continue to inform legislators and the public about the issue.
The Maryland Sweatfree Campaign (www.sweatfree.org/maryland) is a coalition of religious, civil rights, labor and community organizations and individuals including the Presbytery of Baltimore, International Labor Rights Forum, Maryland DC AFL-CIO, Progressive Maryland and UNITE HERE.
Supporters Vow to Continue Fight to End State Sponsorship of Sweat Shops
Annapolis, MD – The Maryland Sweatfree Campaign withdrew legislation that would end the use of taxpayer dollars to purchase uniforms manufactured by companies that exploit women and children, citing a crowded docket and the looming Committee reporting deadline as obstacles to the bills passage. According to Maryland law, all legislation must make it through the referred House Committee by March 19. Bills that do not meet the deadline have little chance of being passed before the end of session on April 7, 2008.
House Bill 290, also known as the Sweatshop Bill, was introduced in January by Del. Joanne Benson (D – Prince Georges) and cosponsored by more than a dozen legislators from across the state. “This is an enormously important bill,” said Del. Joanne Benson, lead sponsor of the Sweatshop bill. “We may have run out of time this year, but I am extremely optimistic about passing this law in the next session.”
Members of the Maryland Sweatfree Campaign echoed Benson’s optimism. “This bill started with a few committed legislators, but as we’ve spoken to leaders in Annapolis about the issue, support for the bill has grown exponentially,” said Charly Carter of UNITE HERE. “We hope to spend the interim educating legislators and the administration and building our coalition.”
“Using public money to subsidize the exploitation of workers is wrong, whether those workers are here or abroad. We are grateful to the sponsor and cosponsors of House Bill 290 for recognizing the injustice that is inherent in the State’s procurement policies and leading the fight to change those policies. We look forward to Maryland joining California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Maine and Pennsylvania among the over 180 states, cities, counties, and school districts nationwide that have adopted sweatfree policies similar to those outlined in HB 290.” said Deb Milcarek, Associate for Mission and Justice of the Presbytery of Baltimore.
Since the introduction of HB 290, awareness of the issue has grown and concerned citizens have sent hundreds of postcards and made calls to their legislators in support of the bill. The Maryland Sweatfree Campaign pledged to hold informational meetings around the state over the next several months, to continue to inform legislators and the public about the issue.
The Maryland Sweatfree Campaign (www.sweatfree.org/maryland) is a coalition of religious, civil rights, labor and community organizations and individuals including the Presbytery of Baltimore, International Labor Rights Forum, Maryland DC AFL-CIO, Progressive Maryland and UNITE HERE.
