By Daily Press staff
Despite warm temperatures, the Santa Monica Pier is sweat-free. The Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corp. (PRC) board of directors recently approved a policy that ensures all goods bearing the official Santa Monica Pier logo will be made in a safe, humane and non-discriminatory work environment.
The increase in news coverage about abuses in the garment industry is raising the level of discourse on global trade and human rights both here and abroad, leading many corporations and organizations to pursue sweat-free purchasing policies.
“Public taxpayer dollars should not be spent to subsidize sweatshop conditions, but rather to encourage responsible business practices,” said PRC board member Cindy Bendat. “Simply put, we will not allow manufacturers profiting from substandard wages and working conditions to do business with the Pier Restoration Corporation.”
In order to qualify as a sweat-free supplier or “responsible manufacturer,” a contractor must provide an affidavit with detailed information regarding the wages, hours and working conditions. Employees must be allowed to unionize if they so choose and cannot be terminated without just cause.
For a copy of the PRC’s policy, call (310) 458-8901 or e-mail to Donor contributes to Elks programs
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 24, 2005. Read the original PDF.