Fair Wear NSW Newsletter
Easter Edition, 2000

We present for your reading pleasure the Easter Edition, regrettably minus a seasonal chocolate surprise. There has been action-a-plenty at camp Fair Wear since our last letter home, and there are numerous campers to thank for their spirited contributions.

CHRISTMAS ACTION

Having played the nudity card earlier in 1999, it was always going to be tough to convince the media that we were going to top our previous performance, even with the assistance of Santa Claus (aka State MP Anthony Albanese). Anthony (helped by Nareen Young from the Working Womens' Centre), Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon and the TCFUA's Barbara Jenson addressed Christmas shoppers in Pitt Street Mall about `Naughty and Nice' clothing retailers during the season of shopping, accompanied by the angelic sounds of the Solidarity Choir and Friends. An army of foot soldiers led by the information dissemination machines from the National Union of Students and the Macquarie Uni Women's collective distributed Fair Wear propaganda to members of the public. A successful afternoon's campaigning - thanks to all those involved.

NSW DIR OUTWORKER STRATEGY

Fair Wear gave a detailed response to the Department of Industrial Relations' Outworker Strategy issues paper released in December 1999 (copies may be obtained from the Fair Wear office). Fair Wear is generally positive about the proposed strategy, particularly in terms of making the chain of clothing production transparent. It is now a case of waiting to see the policy results of the feedback process. It is hoped that any legislative change accompanying the strategy will be able to be implemented by the end of the year. This may prove difficult due to the shortened time that State Parliament will be sitting as a result of the Olympics. Anyone interested in writing to the Premier regarding the strategy can contact the Fair Wear office for more information.

HOMEWORKERS CODE OF PRACTICE COMMITTEE

The Code of Practice Committee is a national committee which has been working on the development of a `standards manual' for clothing that will allow the full-time award rate of pay for machinists to be accurately converted to piece rates. Built into the rate are allowances for such things as fatigue, lighting and ventilation. The amount of detail involved in this task is substantial, so it has taken engineers some time to complete the calculations. The good news, however, is that once the benchmark for piece rates has been calculated, it will be easy to determine whether those higher up in the chain of production are paying enough money to ensure that outworkers are receiving award rates of pay at the bottom of the chain.

Additionally, the Code of Practice Committee is developing a labelling system that is scheduled to be launched in June, once the standards manual is substantially complete. The accompanying accreditation process will increase the accountability for those higher in the chain, and provide consumers wishing to purchase from responsible retailers and manufacturers with the means to act according to their beliefs in wage justice.

FAIR SCHOOL WEAR

The NSW Department of Industrial Relations has begun funding the `Fair School Wear' campaign. The campaign is asking schools to request that their uniform supplier(s) sign the Code of Practice, and not use exploitative labour to make their uniforms.

An information kit was distributed to schools during February, containing a covering letter addressed to the Principal; background information on the campaign; a sample letter to send to uniform manufacturers; a statement of commitment for schools to sign; a response form to indicate who is making components of their uniforms; a list of signatories to the Homeworkers Code of Practice and a brochure on the broader Fair Wear Campaign. This was mailed to every school in NSW (over 3,000), a mammoth task that would not have been possible without an army of dedicated volunteers including David, Nicole, Andrew, Al, Annaliese, Bernie, Gabriella and Adrienna. Sensational work.

The response to the school campaign has been very positive, with almost twenty schools having signed the Statement of Commitment so far, those being: Broken Hill High School, Byron Bay Public School, Cerdon College Merrylands, Leichhardt High School, Mamre Christian College, Marrickville High School, Monte Sant Angelo Mercy College, Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta, Our Lady of the Nativity Lawson, Peats Ridge Public School, Penrith Anglican College, The Scots School Albury, Tuntable Falls Community School, Terra Sancta College, Tomaree Public School, Urunga Public School and Walgett High School. Thanks to those schools for their rapid response.

Three new uniform manufacturers have signed the Homeworkers Code of Practice in response to the campaign, they are: Mark Tyson Sportswear, Orange Clothing Co. and Poppets School Wear - manufacturers of Beare & Ley. We have also fielded numerous additional enquiries from both schools and manufacturers. Anyone interested in finding out more about how their school can become involved in the campaign can contact the Fair Wear office for more details. `Activist Kits' are available for members of school communities who wish to make a presentation to their school on the campaign.

FAIR SCHOOL WEAR LAUNCH

The Fair School Wear campaign was officially launched at Leichhardt High School on 9th of March. 150 students and guests were present to hear Attorney General and Minister for Industrial Relations Jeff Shaw speak about the importance of schools being involved in the elimination of exploitation in the clothing industry. The Minister presented Fair Wear Certificates to early campaign signatories Leichhardt High School, Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta, Marrickville High School and Terra Sancta College. Other speakers at the launch were an outworker who has made school uniforms, and a representative from the manufacturer `Poppets', makers of Beare & Ley uniforms and recent signatory to the `Homeworkers Code of Practice'.

The launch was a successful event, and would not have been possible without assistance from a number of people. Many thanks to the staff and students of Leichhardt High school, particularly the Captains Bethea and Jason, the Head of Science Marie Davis and the Principal Monica Bates.

NEWCASTLE - FAIR SURF WEAR

The Newcastle Fair Wear group has recently focussed its attention on surf wear, particularly in the lead up to the Surfest 2000 event that passed through Newcastle Beach during late March. Lobbying began in January, with around eighty manufacturers being contacted by letter and asked to sign the Homeworkers Code of Practice. A second round of follow up letters and personal phone calls targeted nine prominent surf companies resulting in Kuta Lines signing the Code and discussions continuing with Billabong and others. The lobbying culminated with an action staged on the presentation day of the event. Fair Wear activists distributed information about the campaign along with surf wear specific wallet cards, before a backdrop of what can most accurately be described as works of art masquerading as Fair Wear banners.

Media coverage for the campaign was good, with ABC radio and Triple J both running the story nationally, and a local commercial radio station also doing an interview. Major thanks to Elissa Sutherland, Ben Barnes and all the Newcastle crew for an impressive impact.

FAIR WORK WEAR

In keeping with the seemingly successful concept of targeting specific sections of the clothing industry for attention, we are beginning a campaign centred around work uniforms. The campaign involves employees and their unions lobbying their employer to ensure that the manufacturers of their uniforms are not exploiting the makers of their clothes. The process will ask employers to sign a `Deed of Co-operation' with the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA) that will commit them to supplying details of their uniform suppliers to the union. We are at the stage of finalising the Deed of Co-operation and the campaign outline, and envisage launching in June. If your workplace would like to be involved with the campaign, contact your union or the Fair Wear office for more info.

WILDCARD ACTIONS

Yes, those crazy students are at it again. The University of Technology Sydney women's collective organised an action targeting Esprit during early April. Wearing hessian sacks and distributing information on the reality of the Australian fashion industry, students informed Thursday evening shoppers in the Pitt Street mall of the extent of exploitation in the industry. After attracting attention in the mall, the group then progressed to the nearby QVB Esprit store to continue to educate consumers, much to the dissatisfaction of Esprit staff (you'd think they'd work out that the best way to stop this from happening is to do the right thing and sign the Code).

IMPENDING ALERTS

Two rapidly approaching events for which we don't yet have final details are the May Day rally on 7 May (meet at 11.30am on the Town Hall steps) and activities surrounding Australian Fashion Week in Sydney (May 8-12). Please contact the Fair Wear office closer to the events to find out details of Fair Wear's movements.