Student Assembly

Whereas, Cornell University pays the Fair Labor Association (FLA) about $1000 per year to certify companies as compliant with the FLA’s Workplace Code of Conduct; and

Whereas, the FLA has failed to live up to its mission of protecting workers’ rights, and has certified as compliant corporations that Cornell later found to be violating our code of conduct, including Russell Athletics and Nike; and

Whereas, the FLA governing structure incorporates and inherent conflict of interest1 by including the very companies they are charged to oversee; and

Whereas, the FLA conducts interviews with workers inside of the factory premises where they can be pressured by managers; and

Whereas, the Executive Director of the FLA stated that the FLA does not support Cornell University’s actions in response to Russell Athletics, nor does it stand by Cornell University’s view that apparel licensees are responsible for their subcontractors, as expressed in our code of conduct; and

Whereas, Cornell University is currently affiliated with the Workers’ Rights Consortium (WRC), which serves the same purpose as the FLA in a more effective manner, including the issuance of reports on Russell Athletics and Nike factories used to guide actions taken by the Cornell University administration and the Student Assembly; and

Whereas, it is a disservice to students for Cornell University to continue to spend money to affiliate with the FLA while valuable services, programs and administrative positions are being cut or left understaffed;

Be it therefore resolved, that the Cornell University Student Assembly encourages the University to disaffiliate from the FLA until it resolves the conflicts of interest that exists in its governing structure and the conflicts it has with our code of conduct.

Respectfully submitted,

Alex Bores ‘13
Industrial and Labor Relations

Jennifer Kay ‘14
Freshman At-Large Representative

Roneal Desai ‘13
Minority At-Large Representative