Office of the Chancellor > Speeches, Columns and Letters > Open Letter to CASA - Coalition Against Sweatshop Apparel

Open Letter to CASA - Coalition Against Sweatshop Apparel
December 13, 2006

Dear Members of CASA:

I am writing to advise you of what I consider to be some very positive developments involving the University of Colorado and our efforts to improve conditions for apparel workers in Africa, Asia, Latin America and other places around the world. As you know, I cannot attend your meeting on December 13, 2006 due to a previously scheduled meeting with the university’s Staff Council.  Because of his expertise in working with the DSP on this issue, I have requested that Director of Media Relations and University Spokesperson, Bronson Hilliard attend your meeting on December 13 on my behalf.

While I understand and respect your concerns regarding the Designated Suppliers Program (DSP), our position with respect to these issues remains unchanged.  Vice Chancellor Paul Tabolt continues to work diligently with the DSP working group to address our concerns and to refine the DSP so as to frame it in such a way that we, as a university, can accept it.  It is important to note that of the top 75 revenue producing universities in the country, the University of Colorado at Boulder is one of only six institutions nationwide that is actively engaged with the DSP working group.

I would like to draw your attention to three events that I think clearly demonstrate the university’s commitment (and that of one of our contractors) to the issues of human and workers’ rights:

• On December 8, 2006, the University of Colorado at Boulder sent official notification to Barry Prevor, CEO of 4004, Inc., the parent company of Steve & Barry’s, informing Mr. Prevor that his company has two weeks (from Dec. 8, the date of the letter) to satisfy our inquiry regarding five potential Code of Conduct Violations cited by the Workers Rights Consortium, or face the possibility of termination of contract with the University of Colorado.

• On December 5, 2006 the University of Colorado Board of Regents passed a resolution to divest the university’s holdings from companies doing business with Sudan, in protest of the ongoing genocide and violence in Sudan.

• On November 20, 2006, the Nike Corporation, whom as you know has an exclusive contract as an apparel/equipment supplier with the University of Colorado, ceased all orders with the company’s primary hand-stitched soccer ball contract factory, Saga Sports, based in Sialkot, Pakistan, following the discovery at Saga of labor and workplace compliance violations, and, according to Nike, “Saga’s subsequent failure to implement an agreed-upon remediation plan.”

In my judgment, these three events demonstrate our commitment to the issue of workers’ rights and represent significant progress on the issue of the university’s relationships, both with those engaged directly and those occurring through our contractors, with the people of emerging nations.  Just as importantly, these developments represent positive precedents and form the basis upon which we can continue our efforts to develop an effective approach towards the issues related to social, economic and political justice in the developing world.

As I have stated before, I firmly believe that we have taken a strong national leadership role in dealing with these issues and have acted in a prompt and responsible manner in responding to alleged violations by 4004/Steve & Barry’s.  We are prepared to take further action if necessary, including a suspension of Steve and Barry’s authorization to manufacture or sell University of Colorado licensed apparel, should we find their response unacceptable.  Further, the CU Board of Regents has acted with clear and uncompromising action, regarding the situation in Sudan. Finally at our urging, our chief athletic supplier has acted with integrity against one of its suppliers based upon that company’s violations of workers’ rights.

With this information as a backdrop, I want you to know that I remain committed to the University of Colorado’s ongoing efforts to cooperate and collaborate with the Workers’ Rights Consortium and with our Licensing Advisory Committee, on which you have a representative, to achieve even more positive changes regarding apparel contractors and workers’ rights.  I hope you will join me in these efforts, harnessing your idealism to create real progress on these issues.  As has been the case in the past, I am willing to meet with representatives from CASA and to participate in substantive discussions that can result in productive outcomes.  Vice Chancellor Tabolt and I, along with the entire University of Colorado administration are committed to making “real progress” on these issues.  As outlined above, I believe that “real progress” is being made on a scale that places the University of Colorado in a national leadership position with respect to our responsiveness to these issues.

In closing, I wish all the members of CASA a productive finals period and a safe and enjoyable holiday break.

Sincerely,

G.P. “Bud” Peterson, Chancellor
University of Colorado at Boulder