SWEATFREE PROCUREMENT ADVISORY GROUP
Minutes of January 12, 2012 Meeting
MEMBERS PRESENT: Alicia Culver, Conrad MacKerron. Julie Fisher, Manish Goyal, Eleanor Morton, Jason Oringer, Robert Rosoff and Peg Stevenson.
MEMBERS EXCUSED: John Logan and Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez
ABSENT: Eleanor Morton
STAFF PRESENT: Carmen Herrera and Ken Easton
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at approximately 3:17 p.m.
1. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Action Item: A motion was made to approve agenda. The motion was passed unanimously.
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Member Jason Oringer reported that he participated in the Sweatfree Communities and International Labor Rights Forum held on December 2, 2012 in SF City Hall. He reported that the event was a roundtable meeting to discuss government procurement and human rights issues.
Carmen Herrera advised Advisory Group members who were appointed by the Board of Supervisors that everyone needs to reapply for reappointment except for Robert Rosoff.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Action Item: A motion was made to approve the minutes of November 10, 2011. The motion was passed unanimously.
4. UPDATE REGARDING STATUS OF CONTRACTS
a.) Ken Easton, Purchasing provided an updated Sweatfree Contracts Status Report to the Advisory Group.
Ken Easton gave an overview of the uniform and textile contracts in the report. Ken Easton reported that the Parking and Traffic Uniform contract was awarded to Galls. The Police, Fire and Sheriff uniform contracts will be consolidated into one Public Safety Uniform contract. The next uniform contracts that will be awarded are MUNI Uniforms and the Towels, Mops and Mats.
The Advisory Group had a discussion regarding a Ballistic Vest contract being issued as a purchase order. Ken Easton stated that this contract was bid under a purchase order due to the department’s needs, MOU and staffing.
The Advisory Group expressed concerns regarding purchase orders being issued without coverage of the Sweatfree Contracting Ordinance. After a lengthy discussion, several Advisory Group members recommended to write a letter of concern to Purchasing to possibly limit the number of purchase orders being issued without Sweatfree Contracting Ordinance requirements.
1st Action Item: Member Julie Fisher made a motion to draft a letter of concern to Purchasing regarding: 1.- Limit purchase orders not covered under the Sweatfree Contracting Ordinance requirements;
2.- Recommend a tier scoring system for all uniform/textile purchase orders to include the intent of the Sweatfree Ordinance requirements; and
3.- Recommend adequate staffing to bid uniform/textile contracts under the Sweatfree requirements.
The motion was passed unanimously by the Advisory Group.
Members Peg Stevenson and Julie Fisher were assigned to the draft letter on behalf of the Advisory Group for the next meeting.
b.) Carmen Herrera, OLSE provided an update regarding Robinson Textiles and ITIC Apparel unresponsiveness to the City and the Worker Rights Consortium’s factory findings and recommendations. OLSE reported that Robinson Textiles chose to lapse their contract with the City rather than to remedy the working conditions at the factory in the Dominican Republic.
The Advisory Group had a lengthy discussion regarding Robinson Textiles not cooperating with the City in resolving and improving the working conditions for ITIC Apparel workers. Several Advisory Group members expressed concerns about the vendor supplying other government entities and not complying with the Sweatfree ordinance.
2nd Action Item: Member Jason Oringer made a motion to draft a letter to Sweatfree government jurisdictions regarding the City’s experience with Robinson Textiles and non compliance with WRC’s factory findings and recommendations. The motion was passed unanimously.
Members Jason Oringer and Robert Rosoff will draft a letter for the next meeting.
c.) The Advisory Group discussed the possibility of amending the Sweatfree Contracting Ordinance to include a scoring mechanism to address unresolved factory violations of vendors.
3rd Action Item: Chair Alicia Culver made a motion to assigned Member Robert Rosoff to evaluate the Sweatfree Contracting Ordinance and to propose some language to include a scoring system to address factory violations and an incentive to correct sweatshop violations. The motion was passed unanimously.
5. DISCUSSION REGARDING FUTURE PLANS AND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADVISORY GROUP
a.) The Advisory Group had a discussion about future plans and the possibility of exploring high tech products, disposal of batteries and other products.
The Advisory Group agreed that further exploration of products and supply chain will need to be examined in order to recommend other products to the Ordinance.
b.) The Advisory Group discussed plans for the next Annual Report for 2012.
Chair Alicia Culver asked the Advisory Group to review the last year’s Annual Report and to bring ideas for the next meeting.
6. DISCUSSION REGARDING LABOR VIOLATIONS AND WORKING CONDITIONS OF FLUORESCENT LAMP FACTORIES
The Advisory Group will be further discussed this item at future meetings.
7. AGENDA ITEMS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS
The Advisory Group will continue discussion on some items on the agenda at the next meeting.
8. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Next Advisory Group Meeting:
February 9, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.
City Hall, Room 421
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Alicia Culver adjourned the Advisory Group meeting at approximately 5:06 p.m.
