State anti-sweatshop commission and the MECCA campaign

The Maine Clean Clothes Alliance (MECCA) is a statewide umbrella organization that includes the Bangor Clean Clothes Campaign, Farmington Area Citizens to End Sweatshops and the Southern Maine Clean Clothes Campaign as well as other individuals committed to ending sweatshop abuse and promulgating fair labor practices in Maine and globally. In addition to regular meetings, MECCA publishes a newsletter and a growing email list to coordinate anti-sweatshop activities across the state. To join the list, send a note to Erin Clark at rainne@yahoo.com.

One of the issues MECCA has been tackling is the certification of clothes as "clean." MECCA is designing labels to alert consumers to items manufactured by companies who agree to certain fair labor practices. Companies who receive MECCA certification would have to sign a code of conduct which asserts that the items were made under fair working conditions, that the company will allow independent monitoring of its factories, that they will make the findings of these monitors public, and that they won't interfere with the workers' right to unionize and bargain collectively.

MECCA's first two meetings have focused on a commission that was established by the last Maine legislature to propose ethical purchasing and investment policies for the state. A bill to form the commission, introduced by state Senator Zachary Matthews, was passed on the last day of the legislative session. The commission will draft legislation which will be considered by the legislature. This might require, for example, that contractors who supply goods to any state agency adhere to internationally approved fair labor standards.

The commission will consist of two state senators, two state representatives, two representatives of groups involved with social investment or human rights issues, two business representatives, one manufacturing and industry representative, one labor union representative, one member of the public and one representative of the state's Division of Purchases. Two MECCA members, Bjorn Claeson of PICA and Erin Clark of FACES, have been appointed to the commission. Its work will begin in late August; a comprehensive report will be delivered to the legislature by November 15th. Meetings are open to the public.

With the creation of the commission to draft socially and ethically just policies, Maine becomes the first state to begin generating of a set of ethical standards to govern purchases and investments. Hopefully, the commission's work will set a precedent for other states to follow. The Maine Clean Clothes Alliance intends to support the work of the commission by providing information and expertise, and by generating public support for its mission.