Sports and Exhibition Authority “Imagines Pittsburgh” as a Civil Rights Bridge Unsatisfied with Pirates Investigation of Sweatshop Working Conditions.

 

The Sports and Exhibition Authority (SEA) is expected to invite the Workers Rights Consortium (WRC) to Pittsburgh for a discussion of working conditions in factories where Pittsburgh Pirates apparel is sewn.  In response to concerns from the Pittsburgh Anti Sweatshop Community Alliance, the SEA has made numerous requests of the Pirates.    By inviting the WRC to Pittsburgh, we bring the credibility offered by the 200 colleges and universities with an assessment of the industry and serious attempts to leverage their licensing agreements to support workers.  With the truth about these factories out in the open the Pirates won’t be able to hide behind Major League Baseball’s attempts to obscure factory conditions,” says Pittsburgh Anti Sweatshop Community Alliance co-founder Kenneth Miller.

Tim Stevens, Chairman of the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP), facilitated a meeting of the WRC, SweatFree Communities and government officials from three states on March 23, 2007 in Harrisburg, PA.  “We are all shocked by the extent of Human Rights abuses in the apparel industry.  It’s clear to me that the Pirates are in a most wonderful position to take a stand on behalf of the fair minded citizens of Metropolitan Pittsburgh community.  Considering the public investment we have made as taxpayers to this team, and our collective commitment to the protection of the rights of workers, the Pirates must take the lead in this moral challenge to professional sports. In addition, it will be a big step forward for the public officials at the Sports and Exhibition Authority to demonstrate this kind of commitment to Human Rights as well!” 

PASCA member and SweatFree Communities Board representative Celeste Taylor has been researching the need for factory disclosures and wage monitoring.  She understands the importance of connecting with workers to verify conditions.  "Worker organizations are looking for Pirates and MLB logos as a part of their worker education projects.  They are sharing their findings directly with Pittsburghers.  It’s a Civil Rights Bridge!"

As Pittsburgh approaches its’ 250^th Anniversary members of the Pittsburgh Anti Sweatshop Community Alliance are “Imagining Pittsburgh” as a place where our concern for Human Rights and labor history will make a difference for working people everywhere.  “When workers show courage, we’re going to show solidarity.  In Pittsburgh’s 250 years, we’ve learned to do that much.  Now is the time for the Pirates to step up to bat.  We’ll be glad to see a WRC invitation come out of the September 20 SEA meeting,” says PASCA member Barney Oursler.

With Pirates fans asking if the leadership of Frank Connelly, the new Pirates’ CEO, will have an impact on the sweatshop dialogue in Pittsburgh, members of PASCA are hopeful that Connelly’s background in licensing and the licensing aspect of the MLB Revenue Sharing Agreement will come to good use.  Adds Kenneth Miller.  “It might be hard for Mr. Connelly to look at this from the Pittsburgh perspective, but we’re hopeful.  This is the City of Champions and championing Human Rights is not always easy.” 

The Sports and Exhibition Authority is meeting on Thursday September 20 at 10:30 AM in the David L Lawrence Convention Center.            

USWA Rapid Response District 10 meeting at Linden Hall Conference Center.  Left to right - Celeste Taylor (Pittsburgh Anti Sweatshop Community Alliance, Tim Waters (Rapid Response Coordinator), Charlie Kernaghan (National Labor Committee, and Marge Kruger (CWA) discuss anti sweatshop strategies with USWA's Rapid Responders.