Chuck ChanChuck ChanBrand Development and Trademark ProgramsBrand Development and Trademark ProgramsUNIVERSITY OF TORONTO UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

CAUBO June, 2005CAUBO June, 2005

Canadian Universities Canadian Universities Implementing Implementing Codes of ConductCodes of Conduct

An Opportunity An Opportunity to Think to Think Strategically Strategically and Act and Act Collaboratively Collaboratively

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BackgroundBackground

Practices Practices

InnovationsInnovations

Challenges faced by all Canadian Challenges faced by all Canadian UniversitiesUniversities

Moving toward an ethical purchasing Moving toward an ethical purchasing policy for branded university apparelpolicy for branded university apparel

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BackgroundBackground

We ALL agree that fair labour practices are We ALL agree that fair labour practices are essential – this is a no brainer!!!essential – this is a no brainer!!!

We agree that universities and colleges should We agree that universities and colleges should be able to create products that promote the be able to create products that promote the institutioninstitution

We want a way of ensuring fair labour We want a way of ensuring fair labour practices that won’t cripple us with practices that won’t cripple us with administrationadministration

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BackgroundBackground

Throughout North America, Students Against Throughout North America, Students Against Sweatshops petition universities to develop Sweatshops petition universities to develop “codes of conduct”“codes of conduct”

Universities and colleges develop codes and Universities and colleges develop codes and set standards set standards uniqueunique to their institution to their institution

Universities and colleges left to administer Universities and colleges left to administer codes and wondering “how do we actually codes and wondering “how do we actually monitor the information which has been monitor the information which has been disclosed to us?” disclosed to us?”

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Getting Heard …Getting Heard …

The individual purchasing power of any The individual purchasing power of any Canadian university represents insignificant Canadian university represents insignificant leverage in the manufacturing market place leverage in the manufacturing market place (we are not major US universities)(we are not major US universities) Factories are working toward the standards of Factories are working toward the standards of internationally recognized codes of conduct internationally recognized codes of conduct (FLA/WRC)(FLA/WRC)

Should your institution Should your institution develop a Code of develop a Code of Conduct? – The answer Conduct? – The answer might surprise you.might surprise you.

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Joined International Collegiate Licensing Joined International Collegiate Licensing Association (ICLA)Association (ICLA)

Asserted Canadian leadership within Asserted Canadian leadership within organizationorganization

Developed working Developed working relationships with relationships with Fair Labor Association (FLA) Fair Labor Association (FLA) Workers Rights Consortium Workers Rights Consortium (WRC)(WRC)

Learn from best practices south of the border – Learn from best practices south of the border – Canada is at an distinct advantage because of Canada is at an distinct advantage because of program infancyprogram infancy

Looking for opportunities to streamline processes Looking for opportunities to streamline processes at U of T and nationallyat U of T and nationally

Best Practices & InnovationsBest Practices & Innovations

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ObservationsObservations Codes of Conduct should be specific to licensed Codes of Conduct should be specific to licensed institutional retail apparel (Bookstore) institutional retail apparel (Bookstore)

Bookstores from UBC to DAL use many of the Bookstores from UBC to DAL use many of the same suppliers same suppliers

Over 50% of those suppliers Over 50% of those suppliers are in fact are in fact members of the members of the FLA or WRCFLA or WRC

Administrative processes Administrative processes are are duplicated at most duplicated at most universities and colleges universities and colleges in North America in an in North America in an effort to account for effort to account for product production product production

The FLA and WRC work together much of the The FLA and WRC work together much of the timetime

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Challenges Faced by Canadian Challenges Faced by Canadian Educational InstitutionsEducational Institutions

Need to account for collegiate apparelNeed to account for collegiate apparel

Need to employ practical solutionsNeed to employ practical solutions

Need resources in order Need resources in order to administer to administer accountability accountability

Need to establish exactly Need to establish exactly what level of what level of accountability and accountability and monitoring is expected of monitoring is expected of non-retail / promotional non-retail / promotional supplierssuppliers

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MonitoringMonitoring

AND NOW ….the reality checkAND NOW ….the reality check

WRC and FLA employ similar monitoring WRC and FLA employ similar monitoring techniquestechniques

WRC and FLA work together frequentlyWRC and FLA work together frequently

Monitoring is conducted primarily where there Monitoring is conducted primarily where there is sufficient leverage to make change happenis sufficient leverage to make change happen

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The Reality Check …The Reality Check …

Apparel is being monitored – What about Apparel is being monitored – What about promotional items?promotional items?

Collecting factory disclosure info / and forcing Collecting factory disclosure info / and forcing membership in FLA / WRC of promotional membership in FLA / WRC of promotional suppliers is an administrative exercise with no suppliers is an administrative exercise with no monitoring solution. monitoring solution.

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For Your ConsiderationFor Your Consideration

University licensing programs University licensing programs are similar and small coast to are similar and small coast to coastcoast

Canadian’s take pride in Canadian’s take pride in wearing their university wearing their university apparelapparel

Apparel is the primary focus Apparel is the primary focus of monitoringof monitoring

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Canadian universities and colleges share a Canadian universities and colleges share a relatively short list of shared apparel relatively short list of shared apparel manufacturersmanufacturers

This list could be nationally administered This list could be nationally administered thus saving thousands of hours monitoring thus saving thousands of hours monitoring the same companies the same companies

Innovative and Uniquely Innovative and Uniquely Canadian SolutionCanadian Solution

Eliminate administrative duplication by having Eliminate administrative duplication by having one central and automated host websiteone central and automated host website

Encourage educational institutions to Encourage educational institutions to recognize both the code of conduct of the FLA recognize both the code of conduct of the FLA and WRC as viable alternativesand WRC as viable alternatives

Information would be available by Information would be available by manufacturer, location or school.manufacturer, location or school.

Links would be provided to both the WRC and Links would be provided to both the WRC and FLA sitesFLA sites

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Questions and FeedbackQuestions and Feedback

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