Fairtrade and Workers' Rights at Swansea University - Sign the Petition!

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:37:00 +0100

Tell Swansea University to cut out sweatshops; sign the petition online: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/swansea-university-say-yes-to-the-workers-rights-consortium

Fairtrade Fortnight was celebrated at Swansea University in style this year, with more freebies being gorged by more ethically-minded bellies than ever before! Not only were coffee-freebies arranged by campus catering a sheer success, students almost bought out the entire stock of the Students' Union's special all-Fairtrade sale. Along with outreach done by members of the local Cooperative and Swansea's Fairtrade Forum, all of this added up to create a huge profile for Fairtrade products on campus. Fulton Outfitters even now stocks a rather fetching range of Fairtrade 'Swansea University' hoodies!

The Fairtrade movement has been a major success story, creating a market-based alternative to the exploitation of workers and low-scale farmers at the hands of large multi-national corporations. Thanks to the tireless work of groups around the world, you can now walk in to almost any shop in the UK and choose to spend your money on a product knowing that not only did the producer get a fair share of the profits, but also the chance to fully participate in the decision making process of their business through a democratic 'cooperative' model. The popularity of Fairtrade speaks for itself; in the ten years between 2001 and 2011, Fairtrade's share of the UK retail market increased in worth from just £50 million to £1.3 billion.

The question that many are asking now is 'do we stop there?' Though the Fairtrade movement has created substantial change, many workers in many different industries are still having their basic rights violated by companies looking to keep down costs in order to maximise profit. These companies are often contractors employed by familiar brand-names who operate within a hierarchical chain-of-command; if they start paying their workers a fair wage, the multi-national brand at the top of the chain will simply choose another supplier in another part of the world. In need of a solution, the student movement has once again led the way.

Faced with the problem of their universities spending millions on clothes produced in sweatshops every year, students in the US organised with experts on labour rights to set up the Workers’ Rights Consortium. Over the next ten years, the Consortium would go on to survey the working conditions in hundreds of factories across the world, exposing scandals involving some of the biggest clothing brands in the world, including Adidas and Nike.

Public organisations affiliating to the Workers’ Rights Consortium has meant that the power of institutional change can be used to stop the use of sweatshop labour. For example, universities and local councils spend thousands, if not millions, on apparel every year, providing for such things as safety equipment and uniforms. A single university joining the Consortium means that a small, but effective change can be made. Universities joining the Consortium en masse mean that a large-scale change can take place! Thanks to the hard work of student groups such as People and Planet and United Students against Sweatshops, 181 colleges and universities have joined so far, including 11 in the UK.

It is the success of the Workers’ Rights Consortium in such a short space of time that has made Swansea University Students’ Union so committed to lobbying Swansea University to join. Affiliation would incur a £1000 joining fee on the part of the university, but would mean greater success in university league tables such as the annual Green League, and a fresh ethical reputation. Implementing this change would effectively give the joint university-students’ union Sustainable Procurement and Fairtrade Working Group the teeth to cut sweatshop labour out of our university’s entire supply chain.

It is that simple. There is only one option for ensuring that our university never uses sweatshop labour. Tell Swansea University to join the Workers’ Rights Consortium by signing the petition online: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/swansea-university-say-yes-to-the-workers-rights-consortium

They're paid how much?!

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:24:00 Z

Swansea students campaigning for a fairer education system were dealt a serious blow yesterday. The Waterfront newspaper has reported that as many as 179 members of staff employed by the university are living below the line of a living wage. This finding is in stark contrast to the £222k wage that Swansea University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard B. Davies, received during the last financial year.

In an article published on page nine of the Waterfront yesterday, I raised a concern that these figures show a lack of priority for the welfare of the people who keep our university running. A spokesperson for the university has stated in response:

"The vice-chancellor's salary reflects his responsibilities as the head of a large and successful university with an ambitious vision for the future and a commitment to providing the best possible experience for all our students."

Calculated by Centre for Research in Social Policy, the UK Living Wage (£7.45) reflects the average 'cost of living' across Britain. This is a rate that is annually reviewed and updated accordingly. In comparison, the national minimum wage (£6.19) appears largely out of touch with the everyday needs of most people.

Though only comprising 7% of Swansea University's employees, the 179 members of staff currently paid under the rate of the UK Living Wage are vulnerable to conditions of 'working poverty'; which occurs when someone is not able to support themselves and/or their families with the wages they receive.

Factors that go in to the research behind the annual UK Living Wage include everything from public transport costs to average house and food prices. The need for such calculations has even prompted the Greater London Assembly (GLA) to set its own London Living Wage (£8.55). A move that has received cross-party support from almost every political party represented in the GLA. Research carried about by Queen Mary, University of London has indicated that as many as 45,000 families have been lifted out of 'working poverty' thanks to these measures

“Paying the London Living Wage is not only morally right, but makes good business sense too.” – Boris Johnson, Mayor of London

An ambitious vision for the future for our university is not complete without ensuring a fair wage for all members of staff. A living wage at Swansea University would guarantee a lifestyle for its employees without concessions made to their welfare. Also importantly, it could improve the quality of the student experience; surveys have shown that 75% of employers providing a living wage have reported increases in the quality of work carried out by their employees as a result.

We have a real chance to improve the lives of 179 individuals and families here at Swansea University. As students, we need to be vocal about what priorities the university sets for itself. If the Vice-Chancellor was to accept a wage cut of just £179 (assuming no members of staff are paid less than the national minimum wage), these members of staff could be afforded a UK Living Wage. Students and staff alike would be afforded the quality and fair working environment that we deserve. Let’s not let down the people who work so hard to keep our education possible.

For more information about the Campaign for a Living Wage at Swansea University, please email ethics@swansea-union.co.uk

Ethics Officer

Fairtrade and Workers' Rights at Swansea University - Sign the Petition!

They're paid how much?!