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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-25 99-355 RESOLVEODUNCILRCI]ON Item No. 99-355 Date: October 35, 1999 Ifem/Subject: Resolve, Establishing Guklelines to Address the Purchase of Item of Apparel, Footwear, Termles, and Related Products from Responsible Contractors Responsible Department: Gty, Manager In lune of 1997, the City Council adopted a resolution decoding that all clothes for said in An community should be manufactured In accordance with established international codes of corporate conduct. Reeeni we were approached by represenptives of th Bangor Clean Clothes Campaign who recommontled that the City adopt a panty that t will purchase such Items from responsible and poll manufacturers as well. Because of Nis conracg blab staff and various Council representatives have met with the Clean Clothes representatives over the last several months. The attatled rei has come forward because of these discussions. This resolve sess ford the Cities overall polity, W purchase such Items from responsible manufacturers. It requires that a statement of this poll be included in bid documents, and calls an the Purchasing Agent to request cemam information from bidders lose attached questionnaire). ThIs Information, along with any other Information mat may be independency provided regarding manufacturing domiiUons, will be reported to the Finan Committee at cion time bid information mines forward, and will he taken into account in making an award decision. In bottom, Purchasing will undertake a review d its purchases of wN items over the last year to establish a base line from which to praeed. Mile there Is widespread agreement Nat it is appmpdate for the City W take infonnacon on manufacturing dondRiom Into adorning the major problem will be finding and verifying this information. In most instances, the City will deal with a distributor, not a manufadurer. We anticipate that manufacturers, even when well of inappropriate working dominions, may cot set -report these. problems: There are, unfortunately, no widely recognized organizatiam that certify these products as "clean°. Some concerns also east about the potential that this potiry and the requirements which it platys on todders may have a negative impact on Ne number and price of products offered to the City. To address this contain, the Resolve carries a sunset provkion uncer which tt will expire on February 1, 2001. Prior to that date, the Finance Committee will review Ne effectiveness of the porky In assigning the City In purchasing goods from responsible manufacturers and the impact which it has on our ability to make purchases. Denartment Head Managers Commends: ThIs Item has been reviewed by the Final Commitee, Mich recommends your approval. C/ J Gry Manager IM80Ga[ad IMOmaEmr: R emlve, Questionnaire Legal nppmyal: ❑ry Solicitor Zucedfar assage First Reading Page_ a Referral W Finance Annignea to councilor Blanchette October 25, 1999 CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE.) Resolve, Establishing Guidelines to Address the Purchase of Items of Apparel, Footwear, Textiles, and Related Products From Responsible Contractors. WHEREAS, R Is in the interest of the City Of Bangor to purchase items of apparel, footwear, taMlles, and chain related products from responsible contractors who provide quality goods and services at a competitive price; and WHEREAS, certain manufacturers in these industries in the United States and around the world have been found to maintain sweatshop conditions which include below subsistence wages; unheab ry and unsafe working erwironments; excessively long hours; child, Indentured, and prison labor; persistent disregard for local and international labor laws and workplace regulations; and systematic repression of fundamental women's rights, human rights and workers' rights; and WHEREAS, standards outlining responsible and ethical practice; can be Pound in: the International Labor Organization's Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 32.1); I.L.O. Conventions Section 29, Ankle 2; Section 105, Article 1; Section 87, Article 2; and Section 98, Article 1; the United Nations Declaration on Gentle Equity (paragraph 139), and the U.N. General Assembly Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Anticles 4, 5, 23.1, 23.3, 23.4, and 24); and WHEREAS, sweatshops threaten the jobs and wages of workers in Maine and elsewhere, whose companies may relocate for cheaper labor; and WHEREAS, In June of 1997, the City Council of the City of Bangor adopted a resolution declaring that all clothes for sale in our community should be manufactured in accordance with established International codes of cnrpomte conduct regarding wages, workplace health and safety, forced labor, child labor, and freedom of association; and WHEREAS, appropriate governmental purchasing practices an be effective in assisting to combat sweatshop production practices. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR, THAT: Section 1. Whenever possible, the City of Bangor will purchase items of apparel, footwear, tedeles, and related products from responsible and ethical manufacturers who operate in accordance with established international codes of corporate conduct regarding wages, workplace health and safety, forced labor, child labor, and freedom of association, as embodied in United Nations (U.N.) and International Labor Organization (I.L.O.) conventions. Section 2. All requests for bids on such items shall include a statement of the City's policy regarding such purchases. Section 3. The Purchasing Agent shall submit a series of questions to bidders on Items of apparel, footwear, textiles, and related products designed to determine the manufacturing facilities in which the products under consideration are made, to ascertain working conditions at these manufacturing facilities,and to demonstrate that working conditions are of concern In the City's purchasing decisions. Section 4. At the time of bid consideration by the Finance Committee, the Cit)'s Purchasing Agent shall provide to the Committee information which has been provided on the working conditions of the manufacturer from whom the goods will be received. The Purchasing Agent may utilize information -provided by the manufacturer, the distributor from whom the goads are purchased, reputable national and International organizations, well documented media reports, and Information provided from total groups with concems in this area as the basis for this information. The Finance Committee shall take this information into account in evaluating the bids received and any bid award to be made. Section S. The Purchasing Department shall review its past purchases to determine which goods in these categores purchased by the City over the Past year are manufactured or produced by fims that have been determined to have violated international standards of labor or human rights as determined by a suitable and bona fide international body such as the International Labor Organization of the United Nations. Further, such review may also Include pertinent information on the manufacturers of these goods provided by other reputable sources such as those outlined in Section 3 above. The Purchasing Department shall report its findings to the Finance Committee of the Bangor City Council by February 1, 2000. Section 6. This Resolve shall remain in effect until February 1, 2001. Prior to that date, the Finance Committee shall review the effectiveness of this policy in assisting the City in purchasing covered goods from responsible and ethical manufacturers and any impact which this policy may have on the ability of the City to Purchase such items at competitive prices. IN CITY COUNCIL October 25, 1999 Motion for Passage Made and seconded Supporters of the Clean Clothes Campaign expressed thanks to the Council for their Support of this Resolve 99-355 ORDER Mei Establishing guidelines to Address the Purchase of Items of Apparel. Tsotwai Textiles. and Related Products £rom Re- sponsible Cootraecors F.77 7 Couneffor � M`�