City Council Approves Boycott of J.P. Stevens

The Cambridge City Council last week unanimously passed a resolution directing all city departments and agencies not to buy products manufactured by J.P. Stevens Company.

Councilor David Wylie, who sponsored the resolution at the request of a representative of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, said yesterday the city "will not lose any money because of the resolution."

Wylie said that state law requires cities to accept the lowest bid in purchases of more than $5000. "If the low bidder is J.P. Stevens we have to take them anyway," he said, adding that in purchases under $5000 the city council advocates a boycott if the bidder is J.P. Stevens.

"In conjunction with other cities I think it will have an effect on J.P. Stevens policies," Wylie said.

John E. McDonough, the member of the national staff of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union who suggested the resolution, said that the city's action reaffirms its commitment to the national boycott of the corporation.

"There are a number of city councils across the country that have endorsed the Stevens boycott as Cambridge did a couple of years ago. But Cambridge is the first in Massachusetts to touch purchases," he said.

McDonough said he hopes that the cumulative affect of such actions by city and state governments will send a second strong message to J.P. Stevens protesting their labor violations. "The longer they hold out, the more support we get," he said.

Andrew J. Kahn '80, vice president of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee, said yesterday that Cambridge's stand probably would not influence Harvard to boycott J.P. Stevens. "Based on Bok's letter [released Friday] I'm not optimistic about his policy. The letter never treats the issue of students as consumers," he said.

Ross Boylan '81, a member of the Student Assembly, said yesterday, "It's great they passed the resolution. The problem will be making them follow up on it."

McDonough said it is up to the city manager to carry out the resolution.

Boylan said J.P. Stevens's corporate behavior has been blatantly irresponsible. "I think it's rather appalling that Harvard still purchases their products," he said, adding that although the University may have problems finding alternative suppliers, he doesn't "sense any great effort on Harvard's part to find them. I don't think the Cambridge City Council resolution will change anything," he said.