STAFF EDITORIAL: Deliberating on sweatshops

The task force charged with articulating Penn's policies should listen to an array of voices, not only the loudest. The question is only how. President Rodin has charged a task force with articulating a code of conduct for the University and with determining how best to enforce that code. Two national organizations each claim to best ensure that labor standards are maintained in the clothing factories in question. The debate is over the strength of the groups' labor regulations and the efficacy of their enforcement mechanisms. The Fair Labor Association, of which Penn is currently a member, has the backing of many schools and corporations and the power to monitor many factories. However, critics say that the rules it sets for member institutions do not go far enough to protect the rights of exploited workers. The activists currently taking up residence in President Rodin's office are demanding that Penn leave the FLA and join the rival Worker Rights Consortium. The WRC promotes much tougher labor standards, but questions exist as to its effectiveness and institutional strength. With the deliberative process underway, we encourage all members of the University community to make their voices heard on the sweatshop issue. Legitimate differences of opinion do exist, and all sides should be considered before any recommendations are made. And we encourage the students, faculty members and administrators on the task force to base their decisions on the best interests of the University -- not on the basis of which side shouts the loudest. We trust that the task force will not only consider the merits and drawbacks of both organizations, but also assess its options beyond the FLA and the WRC should neither prove sufficient. And we trust that all parties to the debate will maintain the decorum and emphasis on open dialogue which has thus far prevailed.