Research into ethical manufacturers and suppliers by the Thompson Rivers University Students’ Union (TRUSU) has TRU agreeing to join the Worker Rights Consortium on April 4, 2014.
After a year of investigating and campaigning for ethically produced and sourced university apparel, TRUSU presented its case to the TRU Board of Governors on Feb. 14.
“The Board was receptive and asked us to work with senior administration to come back with a proposal to move forward,” said Leif Douglass, TRUSU Vice President External. “Joining the Workers Rights Consortium is a practical and economical way for TRU to use its purchasing power and political influence to address a very serious social issue, and make a real difference in peoples lives.”
“Joining the WRC fits well with our existing Bookstore business practices,” said Matt Milovick, TRU Vice-President Administration and Finance. “We appreciate the effort that TRUSU has made to bring this to our attention. We are are pleased to support their efforts and to support an initiative that is so important to our students and our community.”
Joining the WRC will minimize the risk and limit the likelihood of the purchase of non‐ethically produced material. TRU agrees that an affiliation with the WRC would provide additional assurance that the manufacturing facilities are also ethical.
The Workers Rights Consortium is an independent labour rights monitoring organization, which conducts investigations and produces public reports on working conditions in factories around the globe on behalf of 180 universities and colleges across Canada and the USA. Their primary focus is monitoring and reporting on labour practices of factories making university-related apparel.
TRUSU is the membership organization of the more than 10,000 students at TRU in Kamloops. It is Local 15 of the Canadian Federation of Students, Canada’s largest student organization.
MORE INFORMATION
Leif Douglass, TRUSU Vice President External
vpexternal@trusu.ca
or
Matt Millovick, TRU VP Administration & Finance
Phone: 250-828-5011
Email: mmilovick@tru.ca
