Trustees discuss sweatshop labor policies, Wythes report

The Executive Committee of the University Board of Trustees met Friday during Alumni Day weekend festivities. The meeting's primary purpose was to discuss the University's efforts to fight sweatshop labor as well as review campus feedback to the Wythes Committee Report, according to Vice President and Secretary Thomas Wright '62.

Vice President for Public Affairs Robert Durkee '69 — who has spearheaded the ongoing effort to enforce University apparel licensee compliance with the school's policies regarding sweatshop labor — updated the committee on progress that has been made.

Durkee said most of the 140 licensees have agreed to the University's demands to disclose their factory locations and participate in the Fair Labor Association. These rules were agreed upon by the trustees last year, Durkee added.

"Certainly on the public disclosure requirement, we haven't had any companies who have said they wouldn't do it," he said. "That's a major change in a year."

He said most of the licensees have their contracts renewed every December. Prior to December, the University's licensees were told that "unless they agreed to adhere to the new requirements, they would not have their contracts renewed," Durkee said.

He said most of the companies have provided the University with the factory locations, which will be sent to the FLA. The FLA then will organize inspections of the companies' factories.

Durkee added, however, that about 20 companies agreed in December to release the locations but have not yet reported them to the University. "It's taking some time to follow up," he said.

'Leadership role'

Durkee said the executive committee appeared to be satisfied with the University's progress on the sweatshop issue. "I think they were pleased because it was successful, and Princeton had played a leadership role in helping to bring about this change," he said.

Durkee added that the FLA probably will begin monitoring the apparel companies this summer. "Any licensee that doesn't participate in FLA cannot be a licensee at Princeton," he said.

Wright said President Shapiro described to the executive committee the discussions that have taken place with campus groups about the Wythes Committee Report. "[Shapiro] said there was a broad acceptance of the report's recommendations but questions had been raised about parts of the implementation, in particular the rise in the student body," Wright said, adding that concerns had been raised about the impact of the student increase on over-enrolled departments.

Executive committee chairman Robert Rawson '66 said his committee is listening closely to the campus reaction. "We want this to be the proper vehicle to move the University forward," he said.

Despite the questions that have been raised about the report, Wright said he is confident the trustees will vote to accept the Wythes committee's recommendations at their April 15 meeting. "My expectation is that the committee's report will be approved, but there may be amendments," he said.