Worker oppression and exploitation is not something we can ignore. It is our duty to use the power we have as consumers to monitor human-rights violations and hold companies accountable, especially those supplying UW-Madison with apparel. When Chancellor Martin terminated the university's contract with Russell Athletics, she struck a blow for workers' rights and demonstrated how our codes of conduct are more than just pieces of paper.
On Feb. 11, the Daily Cardinal Editorial Board called the Chancellor's decision to end relations with Russell Athletic hasty."" In reality, this is far from the truth. The Labor Licensing Policy Committee, which made the recommendation to sever the contract over violations at the Jerzees de Honduras factory, had been deliberating cutting the contract for months.
In this deliberation, the committee reviewed reports by the Worker Rights Consortium, an independent monitoring agency, which clearly indicated that Russell committed egregious labor violations by closing the factory in order to dissolve the workers' union. Even the report conducted by the so-called Fair Labor Association, which is funded and governed by brands such as Russell, acknowledged the major labor violations taking place at the factory.
Upon learning of the allegations in October, the committee waited for the WRC report so as to not make a hasty decision. Even after reading this report, the LLPC contacted Russell Athletics with further questions regarding how the company planned to remediate the situation in Honduras. When Russell Athletics failed to adequately respond to the questions, the committee again waited to recommend a cut. It was not until the FLA report came out - a few days after the factory closing - that the LLPC recommended to the Chancellor that she cut the contract.
It bears keeping in mind that Jerzees de Honduras was not an isolated incident; Russell Athletics had committed similar labor violations in 2007, only one year before. Even after receiving the LLPC's recommendation, Chancellor Martin waited until after a conference call with Russell Athletics in which questions about anti-union activity at the plant were once again inadequately answered. Only after all these steps did Chancellor Martin cut ties with Russell Athletics.
When the workers who make UW apparel make $60 dollars a week (hardly more than the retail cost of a sweatshirt) and receive death threats as a result of simply negotiating for a wage on which they can support their families, this decision was by no means too hasty. We commend Chancellor Martin for ending our Russell Athletics contract. Her timely decision was not made because the case was, as the Editorial Board wrote, ""insignificant enough to not warrant the kind of deliberation we expect,"" but rather because the livelihoods of the now unemployed 1,800 Honduran workers are significant enough to warrant immediate action.
The Student Labor Action Coalition believes we have a special responsibility as students to use our considerable influence and power in direct solidarity with the workers connected to our university and our community. When workers such as those from Jerzees de Honduras ask us to support their struggles for justice, we must respond with real action. Of course, deliberation is important, but once the facts have been established, it is foolish and irresponsible to use those deliberations as an excuse to delay taking meaningful action.
We encourage the Daily Cardinal Editorial Board to research the issue more thoroughly next time before criticizing the UW administration for taking a stand for workers' rights. We also hope more students will join us in demanding a better world and continuing to push our leaders to make the right choices. Those who are interested in getting involved in our work are always welcome to attend our meetings every Thursday at 7 p.m. at the TITU.
- Phoebe Taurick & Jonah Zinn
Student Labor Action Coalition
