TO THE EDITOR:
In April, the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh collapsed, leaving over 1,000 people dead and 2,500 injured. The Rana Plaza facility was sponsored by corporations that sell their products in the U.S., including over 40 collegiate apparel brands.
Worst of all, this type of tragedy is not uncommon in Bangladesh, where much of the economy is based on producing items for export around the world. As consumers in the global economy, we have the ability to influence the way in which the world market operates, and as students we should mobilize to ensure that UNC is a leader in demanding that corporations treat their workers fairly.
On Sept. 13, the End Deathtraps Campaign at Chapel Hill delivered a petition to Chancellor Folt calling on her to strengthen the University’s Labor Code of Conduct by signing on to the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, with the explicit goal of “greater accountability of university licensees for the safety of the workers who make their clothing.”
With 9 out of 10 garment factories considered structurally deficient by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, this is an issue that requires urgent action. To support the End Deathtraps Campaign at Chapel Hill, sign our petition at http://bit.ly/endeathtraps and attend our meetings on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in Murphey 112.
Shannon Brien ’16 United Students
Against Sweatshops
