Sweat-Free Baseball Campaign Hoping to Share All-Star Spotlight
Submitted on Sun, 04/16/2006 - 11:27pm
Image pictured at right: From left to right, John Rudiak-AFSCME Local 2459, Celeste Taylor-SweatFree Communities Board Member since October 2005, Michelle Gaffey-Duquesne University, Kenneth Miller-Industrial Workers of the World and Professor Dennis Brutus-University of Pittsburgh speaking in favor of strong enforcement of our high standards of workers' rights on April 4 at Pittsburgh's City Council. This was the 38th anniversary of Martin Luther King's assasination. Shortly after this picture was taken the PA AFL-CIO passed a strong resolution in support of workers in the global apparel industry.
Disclaimer - The following article is reposted here because it is an issue with some relevance to the IWW. The views of the author do not necessarily agree with those of the IWW and vice versa.
By Charlie Deitch - Pittsburh City Paper, April 13, 2006.
As the Pirates raced off to a 1-6 start, it’s hard to say how many local players will get to suit up when the All-Star Game comes to PNC Park July 11.
But one hometown team is already making plans for the festivities — the Pittsburgh Anti-Sweatshop Community Alliance (PASCA).
“We plan on using the All-Star game to get our message out,” says PASCA founding member Kenneth Miller, whose group’s goal is to create living-wage jobs in sweatshop factories around the world. “We want the Pirates to properly represent the citizens of this city, and be vocal with Major League Baseball about the importance of protecting workers’ rights around the world.”
The group has held demonstrations outside PNC Park for years, part of an effort to convince the league — and city and county governments — not to purchase materials made in sweatshops. PASCA has had some success, with a city ordinance on the books prohibiting such purchases. But earlier this year, the group asked for a public hearing to urge council to better enforce the law. Nothing has come from the hearing, Miller says.
[Read the entire article - Pittsburgh City Paper]