SWEATFREE PROCUREMENT ADVISORY GROUP

Minutes from the March 10, 2022 Meeting

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Conchita Lozano-Batista (Chair), Coyote Codornices Marin (Vice-Chair), Julienne Fisher, John Logan, Jason Oringer (*At 4pm Lozano-Batista left and Codornices Marin assumed the roll of Chair)

MEMBERS EXCUSED: Joyce Kimotsuki

CITY STAFF PRESENT: Hallie Albert (OLSE), Pat Mulligan (OLSE), Shawn Peeters (OCA), Sailaja Kurella (OCA)

GUEST PRESENT: Ben Hensler (WRC)

                                                                                                                

                                                                                             

1.  RESOLUTION TO HOLD MEETING VIA TELECONFERENCE                           

     AND VIRTUAL MEETING STATUS

As the meeting was held within 30 days of the previous meeting, there was no need to adopt the resolution again. If the April meeting is held remotely, another resolution will be adopted.

 

2.  ADOPTION OF AGENDA                                                                                         

The agenda was amended to move item No. 6 up to be discussed first and then approved without objection.          

 

3.  PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA                              

                There was no public comment.

 

4. CONTRACT RECOMMENDATIONS UPDATE

The Group reviewed Conchita Lozano-Batista’s edits to the letter and FAQs. The Group then engaged in the editing process with the following changes made to the letter:

• Add back: “In particular, workers themselves have no real ability to enforce the Ordinance’s living wage provisions” in paragraph 6.
• In para. 2, sentence 1, change to “ensure that GARMENT and TEXTILE workers”… who are producing the city uniforms (including San Francisco’s iconic MUNI uniforms), sheets….”
• In para. 3, sentence 1, replace “theirs” with “ours.”

The Group further discussed how to send the letter to the BOS. Pat Mulligan clarified that OLSE will submit the letter and report back at the next meeting. The Group members can approach individual members of the BOS to discuss when they so chose to.

• Jason Oringer to approach Sup. Chan and Sup. Mar
• Julie Fisher to approach Sup. Peskin, Sup. Chan, and Sup. Mar
• Coyote Codornices Marin to approach Sup. Mandelman

 

 

5.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES                                                                                                       

The minutes from the meeting of February 10, 2022 were approved without objection.

 

 

 

 

6.  OCA UPDATE                                                                                                              

Reviewed contracting report to BOS, no updates on contracts; OCA negotiating with Banner on price increase. Shawn Peters to inquire into how the OCA report is submitted to the BOS and whether the BOS discusses it.  

 

7.  WORKER RIGHTS CONSORTIUM UPDATE                                                         

Ben Hensler from WRC reviewed the status of current investigation – still in interview stage. Hensler also reviewed a follow up on an inspection WRC completed for the City in 2019 and is now revisiting for Madison, WI. In the 2019 investigation, WRC found if the workers took sick leave or vacation, they were docked for attendance and as a consequence lost an attendance bonus. WRC was able to get the factory to discontinue the policy as it was dissuading workers from taking their sick and vacation leave entitlements.

 

Vancouver, BC approached WRC and has an overlap in its supply chain with San Francisco. WRC offered to connect OLSE and the contact in Vancouver.

 

Hensler reviewed a wage theft case in India and the Group discussed the case. Hensler discussion the federal actions on manufacturing and how WRC is currently commenting on the government’s proposed position that cotton imports from Uighurs regions of China be presumptively assumed to be produced by forced labor. 

 

Codornices Marin inquired about any places WRC cannot inspect and Hensler explained that China and Hong Kong have become difficult places from WRC inspectors to conduct their inspections. John Logan asked if the City should be contracting with Chinese factories if WRC cannot inspect there. OCA is not currently aware of any contract with Chinese companies/factories and Hensler was also not aware if San Francisco has any current contracts with manufacturing occurring in China.

 

8.  POTENTIAL ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS                                                    

                Letter to BOS on contract amendments – Strategies for approach