KUAT-TV awarded grant to help in transition to digital television

Janis Leibold
Oct. 13, 1999


On April 30, 1999, University President Peter Likins and Students Against Sweatshops signed an Agreement regarding labor abuses in factories known as "sweatshops" in which garments bearing the UA logo are manufactured. Among the agreements they made are the following:

1. The formation of an advisory Task Force to be composed of six people recommended by President Likins and six recommended by Students Against Sweatshops. The Senate Task Force for Monitoring Labor and Human Rights Issues must have its first meeting in Sept, 1999.

The Task Force, Chaired by Professor Andy Silverman, had its first meeting on Sept. 29 and has met eight times since. President Likins has joined them at two meetings at their request.


2. No later than Aug. 15, 1999, the university will notify its licensees through the Collegiate Licensing Company of the principles contained in the CLC code.

Provided the CLC with the attached letter to be sent to all 300 UA licensees by Aug 14.

3. By Nov. 15, 1999, licensees must incorporate the University of Arizona code into all new or renewed licenses.

On Nov. 30, 1999, the attached letter was distributed by CLC to every licensee for every University in their data base. No licenses were renewed or approved prior to this notification.

4. By March 1, 2000 the UA will adopt a policy for new and renewed licensing contracts to require that licensees release directly to the University Task Force the addresses of all factories involved in the manufacture of finished products and/or pieces thereof. This policy must be fully implemented by Sept. 1, 2000.

In February 2000, CLC and the University provided the Task Force a 95 page document containing approximately 900 factory locations.

5. Vigorous efforts will be made to adopt the disclosure and monitoring principles no later than March 1, 2000 and implement them by Sept 1, 2000.

On January 1, 2000, (two months ahead of schedule) the University of Arizona informed its licensees that they will be required to adopt the disclosure principles included in our labor standards. Approximately 80 percent of them have already provided the information.

6. By May 1, 2000, small companies must also be in compliance.

The University is already working with small licensees to assist them in providing the necessary information in time to meet the May 1 deadline.

7. On August 1, 2000, the University of Arizona commits to withdraw from the FLA if the FLA failed to adopt all four principles in its Code of Conduct.

Two of the four principles have been accomplished: full public disclosure as required by the University of Arizona, and the adoption of the principle calling for the enforcement of the rights of women.

8. Any goals adopted by the FLA must be implemented by six months after their respective adoption dates, and if all four goals have not been implemented by Feb. 1, 2001, the University will seek alternative means.

In addition to fulfilling the commitments to Students Against Sweatshops, the University of Arizona has taken an aggressive leadership role in eliminating labor abuses in factories known as sweatshops. The University participates as a voting member of the FLA_s University Advisory Council, and has actively investigated three pilot programs aimed at increasing the pool of accredited monitors and assisting manufacturers in the process of identifying internal problems.

Share

Resources for the media