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NO SWEAT

NO SWEAT. RUSGA Sweatshop Committee Molly Moss ( Chair ) and Jenn Evon. OUR GOALS. To ensure that Regis University’s apparel purchases are made responsibly To modify the RUSGA apparel purchasing policy in an effort to attain this ideal To extend our policies to all Regis departments

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NO SWEAT

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  1. NO SWEAT RUSGA Sweatshop Committee Molly Moss (Chair) and JennEvon

  2. OUR GOALS • To ensure that Regis University’s apparel purchases are made responsibly • To modify the RUSGA apparel purchasing policy in an effort to attain this ideal • To extend our policies to all Regis departments • To extend our policies to all contractors • To be “100% Sweatshop Free”

  3. BACKGROUND • The RUSGA Executive Cabinet and Student Senate adopted a “Sweatshop Free” policy in 2007 • Regis became an affiliate of the Worker Rights Consortium • Drafted and ratified loose guidelines that restricted purchases of basic t-shirts to apparel companies that abided by the WRC’s Code of Conduct • We had good intentions, but early mishaps and a lack of reliable information have forced us to “play it safe” and lose sight of our initial goals

  4. THE CURRENT WAY • Our business goes almost exclusively to American Apparel because we know it to be sweatshop free. This is a problem.

  5. MISTREATMENT OF WORKERS • CEO sued 9 times in the past 6 years for sexually harassing employees • Blatant and illegal Anti-Union efforts

  6. FINANCIAL RUIN • Debts totaling $120 million • Losing money at a rate of nearly $30m a year • Sales are down 16 per cent on last year • Plans to eliminate thousands of jobs and close dozens of stores in an effort to save itself

  7. ADVERTISING

  8. THE NEW WAY • A list of trusted, verified, ethically sound apparel providers with whom to do business. • We have already identified 3 companies.

  9. SUSTAIN U • American • Utilizes domestic labor and recycled fiber • Predicated on the message of social, environmental and economic sustainability • Custom orders, hoodies, limited athletic apparel • No “blanks”

  10. LIFEWEAR • Family operated • All garments are 100% Union Made • All garments are 100% U.S.A. Components • The cotton for the yarn (Frontier Spinning) is grown in the South • The yarn (Frontier Spinning) is knitted in Pennsylvania • The material is bleached, dyed or scoured in Pennsylvania • Only high quality fiber-reactive dyes are used • The material is cut and sewn with thread (American & Efird) which is also made at the Lifewear factory in Pottstown, PA • Blanks, but only limited colors

  11. ALTA GRACIA • Located in Dominican Republic • Pays a “living wage” more than 3x higher than national average • Safe working conditions • Provides t-shirt blanks in a wide assortment of colors, though colors cycle & shipping takes several weeks

  12. NECESSARY CHANGES • More foresight • Less color options • Buying blanks in bulk and responsibly managing a stockpile of excess shirts • Greater cooperation between the Executive Cabinet and the clubs/groups making shirts

  13. FUTURE GOALS • To ensure that Regis University’s clothing purchases are made responsibly – All of them • 100% Sweatshop Free • Residence Life, University Ministry, Admissions, Academics, Student Health Services, OCPD, Fitness Center, Academics, Staff and Faculty Apparel, Physical Plant, and everyone else • Bookstore, Sodexo, ISS

  14. WHAT’S NEXT? • A school-wide survey of departments on their interest/resistance to sweatshop-free options • Collecting this data to more efficiently work with departments for a 100% Sweatshop-free campus. • Focus on 3 main areas: Student Life, Administrative Departments, and Athletics

  15. STUDENT LIFE • All student clubs should already by purchasing sweatshop-free. • Asking what changes need to be made • How to reach all student clubs

  16. ADMIN DEPARTMENTS • Admissions, Residence Life, out-side contractors. • What steps stand in the way of being sweatshop-free? • What (if any) incentives should be in place?

  17. ATHLETICS • The patch program • Individual coaches • Is it realistic to ask for change?

  18. “In matters of truth and justice, there is no difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same.” - Einstein

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