A division of United Students Against Sweatshops, a nationally recognized organization, held its first meeting at the University last night.
According to the University's SAS organizer, Ross Kane, the new organization wants to create a code of conduct for companies that produce University of Virginia licensed merchandise. They also hope to encourage the University to join the Worker Rights Consortium - a group that monitors working conditions and salaries in factories that produce goods for USAS members.
"We want to pressure U.Va. to condition access to the use of its logo based on respect for the workers and human rights," Kane said.
Factions of the organization are located at over 200 universities across the nation, including Duke University, the University of North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Purdue University and the University of Iowa.
If the University enacts a code of conduct it likely would include such premises as basic workers' rights, fair hours and wages for workers, prohibition of child, forced or bond labor and of forced overtime.
|
The USAS Model Code states, "Licensees must provide workers with a safe and healthy work environment."
But "the whole emphasis is not to enforce regulations on factories, rather it is to find out what workers want," said Chris Gale, vice president of SAS at Virginia Tech.
The University's code would set standards that each University-licensed apparel company would have to follow.
"I think the University should be proud of anything it has its name on," said second-year College student and SAS member Kaitlyn Bauer.
Virginia Tech and Purdue already enacted similar codes of conduct.
To inform universities about working conditions, USAS created The Worker Rights Consortium, an organization that monitors licensee compliance with the codes of conduct.
The WRC goes into countries and observes the practices of the factories.
To realize their goals, the University's Students Against Sweatshops plan on talking with the administration and putting forth a public list of demands.
SAS also plans to gather support from the students and other organizations.
"By galvanizing support among the student body we can achieve our goals," Ross said.
Student interest will be the dominant force in the attempt for approval of a code of conduct by the administration.
"It's a prevalent concern that I would be interested in finding out about. If I can make a difference in the working conditions of workers, I'd really like to," first-year College student Catie McRae said.
SAS organizations across the nation have taken action to see a code of conduct enacted.
In March, members of Purdue University's SAS participated in a hunger strike that lasted for nine days. At the University of Iowa, the SAS held sit-ins for the same purpose.
"I don't see this as a fight with the administration," Ross said. "We seek to work hand and hand with the administration as much as possible. I personally see sit-ins as a last resort"
Read More
MLK III to focus on youth participation in politics as professor of practice
By Ford McCracken | 4 hours agoRestrictive voting laws are only one problem with voting today, according to King — the other is voter apathy. King even called the level of voter participation in U.S. elections “abysmal.”
New School of Data Science building opens with remarks and ceremony
By Cecilia Mould | YesterdayThe four-story, 61,000 square-foot building includes four classrooms and two seminar rooms, as well as a two-story central hub for hosting events.
Democratic Futures Project fellow Félix Maradiaga announces campaign to end arbitrary detention
By Caroline Hagood | YesterdayA public website for the campaign launched Friday, which Maradiaga says is the first step towards raising awareness.
