January 21, 2025
City Council
DATE: January 21, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Council Member Soheila Bana
Subject:
Resolution to prohibit the purchase of products made with Prison Labor
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The resolution may affect the cost of goods and services if alternative suppliers charge higher rates than those that utilize prison labor and staff time to conduct analysis.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City of Richmond seeks to ensure fair labor practices and that the city does not engage in or support the exploitation of incarcerated individuals through the purchase of
products made with prison labor.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution declaring that the City of Richmond
will not purchase any products produced with prison labor and DIRECT staff to conduct a n analysis of current
products/suppliers produced with prison labor and utilized by City and return with recommendations for alternatives to utilize suppliers that do not use prison labor to produce goods - Councilmember Soheila Bana (510-620-6743).
AGENDA
REPORT
January 21, 2025
DISCUSSION:
The City of Richmond prides itself on upholding ethical labor practices and ensuring that its procurement processes reflect the community’s values. There has been a growing concern about the use of prison labor in the production of goods, which may not alw ays meet the voluntary and fairly compensated labor standards that Richmond supports.
The adoption of this resolution would affirm the City of Richmond's commitment to fair labor practices by ensuring that the City does not engage in or support the exploitation of incarcerated individuals through the purchase of products made with prison labor. It would also align the City’s procurement practices with its dedication to social justice and economic equity.
This resolution requires the City to take the following actions:
The City of Richmond shall not purchase any products known to be produced wholly or in part by the labor of incarcerated individuals who are part of a prison labor force.
The City of Richmond shall endeavor to identify suppliers and vendors who align with the City’s commitment to ethical labor practices and who do not utilize prison labor in the manufacturing of their products.
The City of Richmond shall require all potential suppliers and vendors to disclose whether their products are made with prison labor as part of the City's procurement process.
The resolution shall apply to all future contracts and procurement processes initiated after the effective date of this resolution.
The City of Richmond shall review its current contracts and engagements and will take appropriate steps to transition away from any agreements that do not comply with the values expressed in this resolution.
The City of Richmond encourages other municipalities and governmental entities to adopt similar policies that promote ethical procurement practices.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution