Wiley, committee members meet about sweatshop abuses

Chancellor John Wiley met with current and former members of the Labor Licensing Policy Committee on April 27 with the goal of bridging differences and continuing progress in the university’s effort to curb sweatshop abuses in the apparel industry.

During the session, Wiley said UW–Madison would participate in a coalition of universities in pushing for an accounting on how much apparel product is made at specific factories, if such a coalition could be formed.

“I’m not interested in just grandstanding or posturing,” Wiley said. “This is a long haul. We’re spit in the ocean in that big battle, unless we have a critical mass of alliances.”

Several other universities, including Duke and Georgetown, also are interested in the strategy, known as volume disclosure. Activists and experts contend that monitoring volume will prevent companies from moving apparel production to low-wage factories in countries such as China, where abuses are known to be more prevalent.

At a meeting in March, three students and one faculty member announced their resignations from the committee, citing disagreements with Wiley over his approach to volume disclosure and a perceived lack of communication with the committee.

Wiley apologized for the misunderstandings and pledged that he, along with staff members, would promote better communications with the committee going forward.

After the April 27 meeting, two of those who resigned said that they would return to the panel, and two others said they were encouraged by the session and would consider rejoining.

The committee is charged with advising Wiley’s office on matters of UW–Madison logo and licensed apparel.

UW–Madison has contracts allowing more than 450 companies to make products bearing the university’s name or logos. The products are made in approximately 3,300 factories in 47 countries worldwide.