Chuck Chan

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Canadian Universities Implementing Codes of
Conduct An Opportunity to Think
Strategically and Act Collaboratively
Chuck Chan Brand Development and Trademark
Programs UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
CAUBO June, 2005
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Background Practices Innovations Challenges
faced by all Canadian Universities Moving toward
an ethical purchasing policy for branded
university apparel
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Background We ALL agree that fair labour
practices are essential this is a no
brainer!!! We agree that universities and
colleges should be able to create products that
promote the institution We want a way of
ensuring fair labour practices that wont cripple
us with administration
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Background Throughout North America, Students
Against Sweatshops petition universities to
develop codes of conduct Universities and
colleges develop codes and set standards unique
to their institution Universities and colleges
left to administer codes and wondering how do we
actually monitor the information which has been
disclosed to us?
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Getting Heard The individual purchasing
power of any Canadian university represents
insignificant leverage in the manufacturing
market place (we are not major US universities)
Factories are working toward the standards of
internationally recognized codes of conduct
(FLA/WRC)
Should your institution develop a Code of
Conduct? The answer might surprise you.
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Best Practices Innovations
Joined International Collegiate Licensing
Association (ICLA) Asserted Canadian leadership
within organization Developed working
relationships with Fair Labor Association
(FLA) Workers Rights Consortium (WRC) Learn
from best practices south of the border Canada
is at an distinct advantage because of program
infancy Looking for opportunities to streamline
processes at U of T and nationally
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Observations Codes of Conduct should be
specific to licensed institutional retail apparel
(Bookstore) Bookstores from UBC to DAL use many
of the same suppliers Over 50 of those
suppliers are in fact members of the FLA or
WRC Administrative processes are duplicated
at most universities and colleges in North
America in an effort to account for product
production The FLA and WRC work together much
of the time
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Challenges Faced by Canadian Educational
Institutions Need to account for collegiate
apparel Need to employ practical solutions
Need resources in order to administer
accountability Need to establish exactly what
level of accountability and monitoring is
expected of non-retail / promotional suppliers
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Monitoring AND NOW .the reality check
WRC and FLA employ similar monitoring
techniques WRC and FLA work together
frequently Monitoring is conducted primarily
where there is sufficient leverage to make change
happen
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The Reality Check Apparel is being monitored
What about promotional items? Collecting
factory disclosure info / and forcing membership
in FLA / WRC of promotional suppliers is an
administrative exercise with no monitoring
solution.
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For Your Consideration
University licensing programs are similar and
small coast to coast Canadians take pride in
wearing their university apparel Apparel is the
primary focus of monitoring
Canadian universities and colleges share a
relatively short list of shared apparel
manufacturers This list could be nationally
administered thus saving thousands of hours
monitoring the same companies
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Innovative and Uniquely Canadian Solution
Eliminate administrative duplication by having
one central and automated host website Encourage
educational institutions to recognize both the
code of conduct of the FLA and WRC as viable
alternatives Information would be available by
manufacturer, location or school. Links would be
provided to both the WRC and FLA sites
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Questions and Feedback
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