The press release says new sanctions legislation passed today by the New York City Council (Intro 458) contains provisions assuring that labor rights of South African workers must be respected when companies disinvest from South Africa. The press release says the new sanctions law requires the city of New York to collect information about whether individual companies withdrawing from South Africa provide their workers with six months advance notice of disinvestment and negotiate in good faith over the terms of withdrawal; the City will publish reports of violations and correspondence with the company involved in an annual report to the Mayor and Council each October. The press release says...
The press release says new sanctions legislation passed today by the New York City Council (Intro 458) contains provisions assuring that labor rights of South African workers must be respected when companies disinvest from South Africa. The press release says the new sanctions law requires the city of New York to collect information about whether individual companies withdrawing from South Africa provide their workers with six months advance notice of disinvestment and negotiate in good faith over the terms of withdrawal; the City will publish reports of violations and correspondence with the company involved in an annual report to the Mayor and Council each October. The press release says the bill, introduced by Mayor David Dinkins on June 14, is the first sanctions legislation to pass since Nelson Mandela's release in February; in addition to the labor rights provision, the new law extends sanctions to companies with non-equity business relations such as licensing, franchise and distribution agreements; both parent corporations and subsidiaries are now covered as are intermediate suppliers who provide goods from South Africa-related companies; companies producing food or medical supplies inside South Africa are no longer exempt; banks will be classified according to several criteria, including whether the bank has withdrawn its operations from South Africa, maintains correspondent banking relationships, or has re-scheduled or extended existing loans. City agencies will be required to use the bank with the highest rating. The press release says during his recent visit to the United States, African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela repeatedly acknowledged the role of U.S. unions in the struggle for sanctions against the Pretoria regime, and in support of democratic rights throughout all of South Africa; he addressed the AFSCME convention in Miami Beach, the United Auto Workers in Detroit, and met with the executive board of the AFL-CIO. The press release says for further information contact Kate Pfordresher or Bill Henning. The press release discusses apartheid, the African National Congress (ANC), labor rights of South African workers, Edgar Romney, the International Ladies Garment Workers (ILGWU), a democratic, non-racial South Africa, the New York Labor Committee Against Apartheid (LCAA), the New York City labor movement, Cleveland Robinson, District 65 of the United Auto Workers (UAW), Stanley Hill, District Council 37 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and Local 1180 of the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
