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Sample student union motion

This union notes:

1. That many famous high street brands have been exposed as sweatshop employers (Labour Behind the Label’s 2007 ‘Clean Up Fashion’ Report).
2. That the stories that hit the headlines are not one-off aberrations — worker exploitation is systemic in the garment industry.
3. That it is likely that our student union and university merchandise has been produced in sweatshop conditions.
4. That as of February 2008, Battersea and Wandsworth Trades Council’s ‘Ethical Threads’ brand and ‘Epona Sports’, which has a partnership with NUSSL, are credible suppliers of sweat-free clothing.
5. As well as supporting alternative ethical suppliers, to improve working conditions in the garment industry we need to address the practices of mainstream companies and this requires grassroots campaigning for systemic change.
6. People & Planet’s Redress Fashion campaign focuses on what students can do — on the high street and on our campuses — to support garment workers’ struggles worldwide.
7. Redress Fashion targets Topshop as the flagship store of the Arcadia Group, the largest high street retailer not to sign up to the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), and because it targets the student market.
8. The ETI is an alliance of companies, trade unions and NGOs focusing on improving the implementation of ‘codes of practice’ on supply chain working conditions.
9. That the £1.2 billion bonus paid to Philip Green, CEO of the Arcadia Group, in 2005 was enough to double the wages of the entire Cambodian garment workforce for eight years.
10. That students can also be exploited in the workplace.

This union further notes:

This union believes:

1. That workers in every country should have positive legal rights as set out in the conventions of the International Labour Organisation, including the right to a living wage and to join a trade union of their choice.
2. That codes of conduct mean little unless the workers themselves can enforce decent working practices by organising in independent trade unions.
3. That students should be able to expect that the workers producing their student union merchandise have these rights respected.

This union further believes:

1. That the student union should take what action it can to support worker organising and improve working conditions in the supply chains for union and university merchandise.
2. That addressing economic injustice in the garment industry requires concerted action, with companies working with trade unions and other workers’ rights organisations. As a first step to making progress on workers’ rights issues the Arcadia Group should join the Ethical Trading Initiative.

This union resolves:

1. That the union executive, including the relevant services/finances officer(s) and the Environment & Ethics Officer, should investigate the origins of clothing purchased by the Union ensure that merchandise is purchased from a supplier where employers receive a living wage, work in safe and healthy conditions and are free to join an independent trade union.
2. That the union executive, including the relevant services/finances officer(s) and the Environment & Ethics Officer, should investigate the origins of University clothing and if necessary launch a campaign to ensure that merchandise is purchased from a supplier where employers receive a living wage, work in safe and healthy conditions and are free to join an independent trade union.
3. To support People & Planet’s Redress Fashion campaign.
4. To write to Philip Green, CEO of the Arcadia Group that includes Topshop, expressing concern at the company’s poor record on workers’ rights and demanding that they make a serious commitment to improving labour conditions in its supply chain — by joining the Ethical Trading Initiative as a basic first step.
5. To submit the amendment contained in Appendix A to NUS National Conference 2008, mandate union delegates to support it and the union executive to prioritise it for debate in the NUS priority ballot.

Appendix 1 — Amendment for NUS conference

Conference believes:

1. NUS Conference 2006 passed policy (motion 603 on Fairtrade) commending the Fairtrade Universities Scheme and commiting NUS to supporting student unions in securing Fairtrade Status and sweat-free merchandise policies for their institutions.
2. As well as supporting alternative ethical suppliers, to improve working conditions in the garment industry we need to address the practices of mainstream companies and this requires grassroots campaigning for systemic change.
3. People & Planet’s Redress Fashion campaign focuses on what students can do — on the high street and on our campuses — to support garment workers’ struggles worldwide.
4. Redress Fashion targets Topshop as the flagship store of the Arcadia Group, the largest high street retailer not to sign up to the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), and because it targets the student market.
5. The ETI is an alliance of companies, trade unions and NGOs focusing on improving the implementation of ‘codes of practice’ on supply chain working conditions.

Conference further believes:

1. Topshop says it loves students, but students don’t love worker exploitation.
2. The NUS, as a national student voice, could have a strong influence on high street retailers targetting the student market.

Conference resolves:

1. To support People & Planet’s Redress Fashion campaign.
2. To write to Philip Green, CEO of the Arcadia Group, expressing concern at the company’s poor record on workers’ rights and demanding it makes a serious commitment to improving labour conditions in its supply chain — by joining the ETI as a basic first step.