Students against sweatshops offer cake with a message

Fueled by their desire for the University of Minnesota to live up to its legacy of social equity, members of United Students Against Sweatshops and eight other student organizations delivered a cake and letter to President Eric Kaler.

The cake was decorated with the phrase “Cut VF.” When the students cut the cake, they also asked the University of Minnesota to cut its contract with VF Corporation unless it agrees to sign onto the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety.

VF Corporation is the parent company to North Face, JanSport, and other smaller corporations that produce logo apparel for universities and colleges. The company currently refuses to sign onto the Accord, which requires basic safety measures like fire escapes and sound building structures in garment factories in Bangladesh.

“Many factory disasters in Bangladesh are completely preventable,” noted Sarah Valli, an undergraduate Mass Communication major. “This past year and half took over 1,800 unnecessary lives.”

In February, two Bangladeshi workers spoke to University of Minnesota students about the hazards they face on the job.

Fifteen other schools, including Macalester College in St. Paul, have already cut ties with brands like VF. Last year, as a member of Workers’ Right Consortium, the University cut its contract with Adidas.

“We hope to act in solidarity with the workers who sew our apparel again this year,” said undergraduate Political Science major Alex Vagac.

When asked about the University’s response to this proposal, President Kaler told the group that “We’re not about sweatshops” and “I’ll look into this.” USAS organizers said they are excited to hold the University accountable to its commitment of supporting fair and equitable working practices through its membership in the Workers’ Right Consortium.