A coalition opposed to sweatshops says New York State should be buying from the lowest responsible bidder and not just the lowest bidder.
The Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State is adding a Buffalo chapter, pushing to oppose the use of sweatshop labor in making products worn by government workers in the state.
A meeting was held Tuesday night in Burning Books Bookstore in Buffalo to discuss sweatshops and new rules.
Labor-Religion Coalition coordinator Clifford Cawthon said there's a lot of money at stake, with New York State alone spending $43 million a year on apparel including uniforms for workers.
"We as consumers have a responsibility to do something about it because this is very simple," said Cawthon.
It's not clear what the actual cost difference is between clothing made in this country and that made in truly unsafe working conditions like the factory in Bangladesh which fell down several weeks ago in a building collapse that killed 1,100 people.
"We are going to be pushing all these facts we find in the faces of our leaders," said Cawthon.
The activist groups want Governor Andrew Cuomo to put in place a Sweatfree Purchasing Code of Conduct. That proposed code would require responsible bidders either in this country or overseas which provide safe working environments and proper compensation.
There is a related but separate group opposed to sweatshop labor being used to make clothing with college and university insignia called UB Students Against Sweatshops.
Michael Alexander says the group wants the university administration to do more to ensure workers making clothing with the UB markings is made by properly-paid workers.
"It's their struggle that they need to fight for. And we as people over here in the U.S. can show solidarity by not investing in the products made in sweatshops,"said Alexander.
Both groups are looking for New York to join New Jersey. In California, they're pushing for a Purchasers Code of Conduct.
