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Category: Justice Content: Sweatfree Communities March 8, 2007 Dear Governor Deval Patrick, In light of yesterday’s revelation of a garment sweatshop in New Bedford, we urge you to take action now to end sweatshop exploitation by joining the Governors' Coalition for Sweatfree Procurement and Worker Rights. When federal immigration officials raided Michael Bianco Inc., they discovered horrific working conditions similar to the conditions in New England mills over a century ago: · Talking was prohibited, punishable by a $20 fine. If workers talked twice while on the clock they could be fired. · Bathroom visits were limited to two minutes or punishable by $20 fines. · For every minute workers were late for work, their wages were docked by 15 minutes. The workers at Michael Bianco are mostly from Central America, a region where so-called “free trade” has eroded local economies and forced people to emigrate for their survival. Unfortunately, the poor working conditions these workers faced in Massachusetts were not much better than sweatshops in Central America. Michael Bianco Inc. is a U.S. government contractor, producing vests and backpacks for the military. Governor, we know that you agree that sweatshops in Massachusetts in this day and age are an outrage. We know that you also agree that our tax dollars should not subsidize sweatshops. The exposé of a sweatshop in Massachusetts demonstrates the need for action. But action should not mean closing down sweatshops and depriving workers of their jobs. Instead, government should require its contractors to improve conditions to meet fair labor standards. Government should require contractors to disclose where their factories are located, the wages workers are paid, and the conditions in which they labor. Businesses that operate sweatshops behind a veil of secrecy should not benefit from public contracts. For the sake of workers in Massachusetts and elsewhere we urge you to take positive action to end sweatshops by joining the Governor's Coalition for Sweatfree Procurement and Worker Rights. Governor Baldacci of Maine, Governor Corzine of New Jersey, and Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania are already members of the Coalition. To join the Coalition, please sign the enclosed resolution from Governor Baldacci. More information is available at www.sweatfree.org/consortiumvision. SweatFree Communities is a national organization that works to end sweatshops in the global garment industry and build a just global economy by promoting ethical government procurement. Sincerely, Liana Foxvog SweatFree Communities National Organizer Massachusetts Sweatfree Campaign Coordinator