Workers’ rights not a small issue for University to sweat

For students, $2,400 is quite a bit of money. For the University of Montana, it’s not. And for sweatshop workers in Third-World countries, it’s more than they can imagine.

Based on figures from 2004, $2,400 is the estimated cost for UM to affiliate with the Worker Rights Consortium. The WRC inspects factories in which gear bearing the brand of member colleges is made to ensure they provide humane working conditions. At least one of the factories making Griz gear has been cited for violations by the WRC.

Students for Economic and Social Justice, a UM student group, has been pushing for UM to join the WRC all semester. Last week, they got a boost from ASUM, which unanimously recommended that the administration fork over the small fee – 1 percent of total gross revenue from apparel sales each year – to join the WRC.

Unfortunately in this case, ASUM’s powers stop there. It’s up to administrators to take the next step, and so far they haven’t committed either way. UM President George Dennison said today he’s waiting on a report from the Collegiate Licensing Board, which he expects by next month, before making a decision. He’s concerned about the cost and whether UM already pays for a similar service, he said.

Well, we can ease at least one of those concerns. A couple thousand dollars isn’t much for a university that, according to its Web -site, has a current funds revenue of $281.9 million for 2005-06. And it’s well worth it in this case for several reasons.

First, there’s the fact that the University is nothing without its students, and the students have spoken on this issue through their representatives: ASUM. Plus, a large percentage of apparel sales surely comes from students, so they should have a voice in the way their gear is made.

Indeed, the type of liberal education one gets in college is closely tied to a concern for others. As Sam Schabacker with SESJ said, joining the WRC would be a way for UM to practice what it preaches in its classrooms. Besides, what type of example would administrators be setting for, say, business majors by knowingly allowing inhumane working conditions to exist on UM’s behalf?

As far as the other information Dennison is waiting for – whether UM already pays for a similar service – that seems a legitimate concern. Schabacker said UM doesn’t have such a service, but it’s worth checking out. All we ask is that it’s done without any foot-dragging and, if found not to be the case, that UM forks over the cash to join WRC. Because although it isn’t much to UM, it could make all the difference in the lives of sweatshop workers, and it’s the right thing to do.