Senate OKs CLEA bill

April 7, 2008  Brattleboro Reformer

By CHRIS GAROFOLO, Reformer Staff

It took a year and a half in the Statehouse and hours of time away from family, friends and classwork, but a handful of students from Brattleboro Union High School have helped
shift the purchasing practices within the state of Vermont.

The Senate unanimously passed a measure requiring the state to work toward ensuring all apparel purchases come from sweatshop-free factories during their session Friday, with the John Hancock of Gov. Jim Douglas being the final step before it becomes a Vermont law.

"It's passed all the steps needed to be signed and now goes in front of the governor's desk for his signature," said Sen. Jeanette White, D-Putney.

The bill initially began in the halls of the high school, when students involved with the Child Labor Education and Action Project took the idea to the school board and had the institute adopt an anti-sweatshop code for uniforms. From there, the concept bloomed into a movement that went from a social studies course to the floor of the Statehouse.

It was a strange feeling, said CLEA member Fiona Mahurin. Everyone was initially stunned before the smiles
appeared, she said.

"We had to hold our screams for a couple of minutes," said Mahurin.

"They were very excited, they were glowing," said White.

The BUHS students sat in during the legislative session late last week, the third time this year they have been at the Statehouse.

"We've been up about five times over the past two sessions," said CLEA member Hannah Viens. Being a part of the organization is a major commitment, but it also provides active learning outside the classroom and the teachers have been very supportive, she said.

"You have to find your priorities, and CLEA is a priority," she added.

Prior to the approval of the Senate, the bill went in front of the Senate Government Operations Committee -- chaired by White -- where the students testified in favor of the legislation.

"We had very few questions in our committee because they did their work in a very personal and thorough way," said White, who requested a bill signing ceremony for the students to attend in the governor's office. The ceremony is expected to happen within the next two weeks subject to the governor's signature.

With this measure, Vermont will join six other states, Maine, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Illinois and California, that have similar sweatshop-free initiatives.

"It's really a big step in the right direction," said Mahurin. CLEA members said a number of other states, including Oregon, Ohio, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Maryland, currently have legislation in the process.

Group member Whitney Smith said the more people involved in the sweatfree movement, the easier it will be in influence the companies to create lasting change.

Although a portion of the group members will graduate and head off to college, Viens said the underclassmen active in the organization will continue to pursue a variety of issues in the community. She said CLEA may begin to explore domestic issues, such as the migrant workers across the country and the unpleasant conditions they are forced to work in.

There are quite a few underclassmen ready to take the reins, said Smith. "It's exciting to see we have a group of students taking over."

Chris Garofolo can be reached at cgarofolo@reformer.com or 802-254-2311 ext. 275.