BUHS says: No sweat!

Wednesday, November 22, 2006 Brattleboro Reformer 
By HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN, Reformer Staff

BRATTLEBORO -- Brattleboro Union High School is now officially sweatshop-free.

And the students who spearheaded the action want to take the plan to the Statehouse.

After seven months of on-and-off debate, the BUHS Board adopted guidelines Monday for purchasing band and sport uniforms from companies that "uphold the dignity and right of workers."

At its June 15 meeting, the BUHS Board voted to affiliate with the Workers' Rights Consortium, a national organization that encourages schools and universities to commit to purchasing only apparel that is produced at factories that respect worker rights.

Brattleboro Union High School was the first high school in the nation to join.

At its meeting this week, the board hammered out the final details on how the school is going to adhere to the standards.

Members of the Child Labor Education and Action Project (CLEA) held a press conference at the school Tuesday to announce the new school policy.

Fiona Mahurin, 16, one of the CLEA members, said the group now wants to take the movement to Montpelier to try to get the state to sign on.

"Our next goal is to try to make Vermont sweatshop-free," Mahurin said. "All state contractors should adopt the code of conduct."

The group is scheduled to meet with legislators in January.

She said six other states -- New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, California, Illinois and Maine -- have vowed to only purchase uniforms and clothing from companies that promise to support fair working conditions.

"As more states come together we can increase our purchasing power," said Mahurin.

As a member of the Workers' Rights Consortium, BUHS will forward the names of the companies that sell the school uniforms.

The organization then makes sure those companies address any human rights issues that are uncovered there.

It cost the high school $500 a year to be a member of the nonprofit.

It took the CLEA members some time to sell the high school board on the idea.

Hannah Viens said the exercise gave the group time to make sure there was support there.

"It gave us time to help educate the community," she said.

All BUHS apparel suppliers must now provide wages which comply with state and federal law.

The companies must also prove that no child labor was used, and the workers at the factories must not be subject to harassment, abuse or discrimination.

"BUHS reserves the right to cease business relations with suppliers who choose not to cooperate in our efforts to end sweatshop abuses," the new code of conduct reads.

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Howard Weiss-Tisman can be reached at hwtisman@reformer.com or (802) 254-2311, ext. 279