The University decided not to renew its trademark agreement with Russell on Jan. 30 following a meeting with representatives of the Rutgers Labor Association, said University Relation’s Assistant Director Marybeth Schmutz, who specializes in trademark services.
The contract with Russell Corporation, which provides Rutgers apparel to the University, will expire at the end of March, she said. The decision came as a result of listening to student concerns.
“Two students came to see [University officials Jan. 30] to discuss the situation with the Russell factory in Honduras,” Schmutz said. “We took their input under serious advisement and afterwards, we decided we would not renew the Russell agreement.”
Schmutz said they notified the Rutgers Labor Associations representatives on Tuesday, but did not hear back from them right away, which resulted in a miscommunication about the University’s intent regarding the Russell contract.
The Association hosted an event on Wednesday featuring two workers from a Honduran factory that were fired for trying to unionize, according to an article published yesterday in The Daily Targum.
At the meeting, the Association did not inform those who attended that the University had decided not to renew the trademark agreement with Russell, said August Schneeberg, president of the Association and Livingston College senior.
He said he did not think it was necessary because the Association had asked for another meeting and University officials did not meet with them Wednesday before their event.
“We had no proof that the University would follow through,” Schneeberg said.
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Delia Pitts said there is not Russell apparel on the shelves in the University’s bookstores, and students and the University were in agreement about ending the contract with Russell.
“I hope it comes to fruition,” Schneeberg said. “Ending the contract would send a message that Rutgers intends to adhere to the Designated Suppliers Program.”
Aiming to reduce the abuses of sweatshops, Schmutz said the University will be joining the Knights Apparel Bookstore Initiative, a major collegiate manufacturer and a University licensee.
Under the initiative, participating university bookstores would buy a certain amount, but not all, of their apparel from Knights Apparel, Schmutz said.
“These products will be made in a factory in Costa Rica, and possibly later in Haiti, that guarantee workers will be paid a living wage,” she said.
There will be a labor organization at the factory and conditions will be monitored, Schmutz said.
“This is very groundbreaking,” Schmutz said. “It’s unusual, if it’s ever happened, that a factory is paying what they call a living wage.”
Along with many other universities, the University is enthusiastic about the initiative that is in its beginning stages, she said.
Schmutz said there was a conference call yesterday to talk about the initiative, which is moving forward at a fast pace.
“[The initiative] will probably start getting off the ground later this spring, but we’re not quite sure when the products will be in the bookstore,” she said.
The University also has licensing agreements with Nike, Gear and Champion, Schmutz said.
She said no one in the University can guarantee that abuses do not take place but it does belong to two organizations, the Worker Rights Consortium and the Fair Labor Association, that monitor the labor standards in other countries on behalf of other colleges and universities, Schmutz said.
Russell apparel contract cut after students voice concerns
Published: Friday, February 6, 2009
Updated: Friday, February 6, 2009
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