OUSU samples forbidden fruit
In a contradiction of its strict ethical codes, OUSU has procured T-shirts from a company facing serial accusations of sweatshop abuse.
The T-shirts, produced for the recent OUSU Target Schools open days, were made by Fruit Of The Loom, a company that has been accused by the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF) of "disgraceful behaviour" in its treatment of workers, and of violent union-busting methods.
OUSU placed an order for the 150 T-shirts with Shirtworks of Oxford. According to Shirtworks, the Cowley Road printing company, Laura West, VP (Finance), specifically asked for "the cheapest t-shirts" that the company used. OUSU is now seeking a reprint from Shirtworks, this time on
ethically-produced t-shirts, with the Students' Union claiming it "did not receive the products originally ordered".
However, a spokesperson from Shirtworks told The Oxford Student that this would not be possible, claiming the T-shirts were completed to the ordered specifications.
The OUSU Ethics Committee has passed various resolutions over the last few years pledging to "investigate and if necessary campaign on the issue of University and college merchandise and labour standards".
Campaigns have been conducted against the official Oxford University-branded clothing range, after questions were raised regarding the Fruit Of The Loom plant near Rabat, in Morocco.
Media attention was focused upon the Rabat factory in 2001 after eight union leaders were dismissed for forming a union branch at the plant.
Allegations of harrassment were then made subsequent to this dismissal - some even being directed towards the local police. There is a "climate of fear" among the remaining workers, according to the ITGLWF at the time.
Speaking on behalf of the OUSU ethics committee, Tom Dale told The Oxford Student: "We think this shows OUSU's ethical guidelines on purchasing need to be made clearer, and that there should be a mandate for their inclusion in business contracts, not just informal agreements.
"A huge proportion of clothes are made in factories in the third world whose owners employ violence and intimidation against workers."
6th Oct 2004