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Date of publication: September 8, 2005

Source: The Portland Phoenix

Author: Sara Donnelly

In 2003, Governor John Baldacci signed into law rules prohibiting the state Division of Purchases from buying state uniforms and other supplies from sweatshops (see "Good Laws," by Jess Kilby, May 9, 2003). Maine subsequently became the first state in the country to purchase state materials only from vendors who adhere to modern labor standards. Problem is, the Division of Purchases found out early this year that the "SweatFree" rules were never finalized because of a procedural error.

Whoops.

That leaves the DivP to hammer away at the rules all over again to get them passed (and signed) for real in the next legislative session. But some of the state’s most prominent anti-sweatshop advocates think the new rules the DivP’s drafted so far, especially a provision requiring anyone complaining about a vendor’s labor standards to swear under oath that they’re telling the truth, will strip the heft right out of the state’s groundbreaking "SweatFree" standards.

At a public hearing in Augusta on Thursday, August 25, Betty Lamoreau, Director of the Division of Purchases, heard testimony in favor of the "SweatFree" rules and against the complainant requirements from legislators like Senator Margaret Rotundo (D-Lewiston) and Senator Elizabeth Schneider (D-Orono) and prominent free trade advocates like Matt Schlobohm, an organizer with the Maine Free Trade Campaign, and Bjorn Claeson, National Coordinator of SweatFree Communities, in Bangor.

Claeson read emails from labor-rights activists in Hong Kong and El Salvador, both of which said the labor climate in their countries is so volatile many workers are afraid even to speak of abuses, let alone swear under oath.

"Taking this oath may also be a hurdle for workers and advocacy organizations that may not have easy access to a Notary Public or equivalent," Claeson testified.

Claeson, Schlobohm, Schneider, and Rotundo suggested the state hire an independent monitor to evaluate labor standards at vendor factories.

The state Division of Purchases will accept written testimony on the SweatFree rules until September 6. It will then send the new rules to the legislature’s State and Local Government committee for review.