wfn.org | United Church of Christ Terms Apparel Industry Partnership Deceptive

[George Conklin <gconklin@wfn.org>]

United Church of Christ
Office of Communication
700 Prospect Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44115
contact: Barbara Powell
phone: 216-736-2222
email: powellb@ucc.org
http://www.ucc.org

PROVIDENCE, RI - July 6 1999 -  A proposed organization to monitor conditions
in overseas apparel factories is both "deceptive and pernicious," says a
minister from Brooklyn, N.Y.
        Mt. Sinai Congregational UCC, led by the Rev. Noelle Damico, brought to
General Synod 22 a resolution critical of the Apparel Industry Partnership
(AIP). Far more than the two-thirds of the delegates required voted in favor of
this resolution.
        The AIP was started in 1996 by President Clinton to address working
conditions for workers in American-owned factories overseas, and originally
included industry representatives and human rights groups. Subsequently, the
Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility, part of the National Council of
the Churches (of which the UCC is a member), withdrew its support of a labor
association and code of conduct created by the AIP, and eventually withdrew
from the AIP.
        The Interfaith Center's objections, echoed by the UCC resolution, are
that the Workplace Code of Conduct, created by the AIP, does not "adequately
address the use of child labor and fails to support workers' right to organize
or receive a living wage." Even if the Code of Conduct was acceptable, they
note that the Fair Labor Association, which would monitor companies' compliance
with the code, would have leadership selected by the industry and, therefore,
said Damico, the industry "would regulate themselves without public
accountability.”
        “With the Fair Labor Association document, there are not adequate
provisions for further monitoring,” Damikco said.
        Under the AIP's Code of Conduct, companies could promote their products
as "sweat free" if their factories met minimum standards.  Damico pointed out
that, under the code of conduct, only 10 percent of a companies' factories
would need to be inspected and certified for all company factories to be
declared "sweat free." The companies, she added, would also submit a list of
factories to be inspected.
        "These companies ought to conform to at least minimum standards for
their employees," added the Rev. Rollin Russell, Conference Minister for the
Southern Conference. Many textile manufacturers are located within his
conference, which includes churches in North Carolina and Virginia.
        The resolution suggests improvements to the AIP documents, including:
        * allowing children to complete mandatory education;
        * establishing a worldwide standard 48-hour maximum work week with
voluntary overtime; and 
        * paying employees a wage suitable to at least provide basic needs for
the worker and his or her family.
        Local UCC congregations and members also are encouraged "to become more
discerning consumers, willing to pay for the increased costs of goods
manufactured in accord with the guidelines of this resolution.