Archdiocese of Newark to Hold Meeting for Sweatshop Initiative The Archdiocese of Newark, in an attempt to expand the efforts of its Sweatshop Initiative, will host a meeting on Tuesday, May 22, 10:30a.m. - 4 p.m., at the Archdiocese of Newark Pastoral Care Center, 171 Clifton Avenue, Newark. Archdiocesan representatives Rev. Msgr. John Gilchrist, liaison to labor for the Archdiocese, Sr. Dominica Roccio, S.C., Superintendent of Schools, and Kay Furlani, Director of Human Concerns, will host the event. Guest speakers Louis Vanegras, District Director of U.S. Department of Labor, and Charles Kernaghan, Executive Director of the National Labor Committee, will address such relevant issues as "How the Manufacturing Industry Works" and "The Work of the National Labor Committee and How It Can Help." Kay Furlani, Director of the Office Human Concerns for the Archdiocese, will also speak about the recent progress of the Sweatshop Initiative. Four years ago the Archdiocese of Newark began its Sweatshop Initiative to assure that Catholic school uniforms sold to schools in the Archdiocese are not made in sweatshops or by child labor. Since that time, many dioceses, schools, and religious communities have inquired about this groundbreaking campaign. It has come to light that some of the vendors who work for the Archdiocese of Newark also do business with schools in many of the other dioceses in the Northeast region. The Archdiocese of Newark now believes the time has come to begin networking with one another in this effort to take a stand against sweatshops. -continued- Archdiocese to Hold Meeting for Sweatshop Initiative "There are good reasons for our trying to work together in this effort: first, in unity there is strength. Our combined voices and actions will have greater impact in pursuing justice for workers subjected to sweatshop conditions," said Furlani. "Second, monitoring manufacturers to assure that uniforms are not made in sweatshops is the most difficult part of the process. In light of this, coordinating this monitoring would be a more efficient use of our resources." The Archdiocese of Newark would like to bring together those who are already gathering information about uniform manufacturers and those who are interested in obtaining more information about this effort. If you would like to know more, or would like to attend this event, please contact Kay Furlani, Director of Human Concerns, at (973) 497-4341, or by e-mail, at furlanca@rcan.org.
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