Students call for ethical procurement of university garments

27th November 2012

Students are to hold protests at 30 universities on 26 November against what they say are labour rights abuses in university garment supply chains.

The protesters, from the campaigning network People & Planet, are calling on their universities to join the Worker Rights Consortium, a global labour rights monitoring body which focusses on university supply chains.

Like most clothes in the UK market, university clothing is often produced in developing countries in which companies pay workers little for long hours and in dangerous conditions. Recently a factory explosion in Bangladesh injured 50 [3], and a fire at a factory producing clothing for the UK market killed over 400 people last year.

Since 2010, 220 students unions and 8 UK universities have joined the Worker Rights Consortium, with student campaigners pushing for their universities to do the same at 30 different institutions this year. There are already 180 members in the US and Canada, where the student anti-sweatshop movement has been campaigning for longer. The students say that 'this is the next Fairtrade'.

Chester student Lauren Stephens says

“The spending of large institutions can be used to improve working conditions for thousands of people around the world. Students led the way on Fairtrade, and now they’re taking the lead in putting an end to sweatshops as well.”

Aberdeen student Gordon Maloney says

"Universities don't exist in a bubble. They have a responsibility to society, and that's a responsibility that too often goes unfulfilled."

Campaigner Jim Cranshaw says

“188 universities worldwide have joined the Worker Rights Consortium now and started taking action to stop sweatshop abuses. We call on other UK universities to join them. Students won't put up with sweatshops being used to make their clothes.”

People & Planet is the largest student network in Britain campaigning to end world poverty, defend human rights and protect the environment. www.peopleandplanet.org/buyright

Students call for ethical procurement of university garments

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