From: Amber Gallup (ambergallup@yahoo.com)
Date: Fri Mar 22 2002 - 15:18:43 EST
Hey USAS --
It has recently been announced that New Era has requested a meeting with the WRC and the WRC has agreed -- the meeting is set for April 16th. A memo from Scott Nova of the WRC to university administrators is forwarded below.
There are at least a couple of things that I think USAS should take out of this event - (and write in of course if you want to add to this discussion.) First, this meeting makes it clear that New Era is feeling the pressure from the contract suspensions and general clamor that student pressure is causing -- they're taking us and the WRC seriously. We should take a moment to recognize that and feel empowered and motivated by it.
Second, we need to be wary of New Era using this information as a means to deflect pressure off of themselves. It's likely they'll try to convince our administrators that this meeting with the WRC means they're "cooperating". Obviously, a mere meeting does not constitute "cooperation" (as Scott notes in his memo below) until we know the exact outcomes, and we can't let the company get away with claiming that in order to slow the wave of contract suspensions - we need increased vigilance here and to recognize our work has had an impact.
My two cents,
Amber
____________________________________
Subject: New Era update from Scott Nova
Dear Colleagues:
I write to update you on developments with respect to New Era Cap Company. New Era management, in response to demands from a number of colleges and universities that the company cooperate with the WRC, has contacted us to seek a meeting. This meeting will take place on April 16; in addition to WRC representatives, New Era has asked a number of university officials to attend.
We appreciate New Era's decision to agree to a meeting.
It is important to note, however, that it is not clear, at this point, that this decision reflects a commitment on the part of New Era to cooperate with the WRC assessment. As you know, New Era has still not satisfied the request for information and documents outlined in the WRC report issued seven months ago, has not cooperated in other ways with the WRC's investigative work, and has not responded in a constructive way to the serious concerns that have been raised about the company's labor practices. The WRC's investigative process involves extensive interviews with relevant managers and supervisors, detailed discussion of allegations of code violations with senior corporate management, review of relevant company documents, safety inspection of production facilities by specialists (where health and safety is the focus of an investigation), and other activities that require management's cooperation. Until the meeting with New Era is held, we will not know whether the company's decision to agree to a meeting with the WRC indicates a substantial change in the company's posture and a meaningful commitment to take a cooperative approach.
We will keep you posted. Please feel free to contact me if you have any thoughts or questions on this matter.
Scott
Scott Nova
Worker Rights Consortium
5 Thomas Circle
Washington DC 20005
voice 202.387.4884
fax 202.387.3292
www.workersrights.org
*******
Amber Gallup
United Students Against Sweatshops
888 16th Street NW Suite 303
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 667-1155
Fax: 202.347.0708
Amber Gallup
United Students Against Sweatshops
888 16th Street NW Suite 303
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 667-1155
Fax: 202.347.0708
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