UPDATE: The University of Washington has severed its licensing agreement with Russell Corp., maker of hats, T-shirts, sweat shirts and other items bearing the UW logo. The move follows a report issued in November saying Russell had threatened workers at a factory in Honduras saying the plant would close if workers unionized. After union groups formed, the plant did close.
To read The Seattle Times article, click here.
EARLIER: The University of Michigan says it is ending its apparel licensing agreement with the Russell Corporation, becoming the 12th university to do so in response to the company’s decision to close a unionized factory in Honduras. University of Michigan officials say an agreement under which Russell made T-shirts, sweatshirts and fleeces with university logos would end as of March 31 because Russell had violated the university’s code of conduct calling on licensees to guarantee the basic rights of workers. Michigan joined Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Georgetown, Purdue, Rutgers and several other universities that curtailed agreements with Russell, a subsidiary of Fruit of the Loom.
To read The New York Times article, click here.
