In a letter Student Labor Action Coalition members received Thursday, Chancellor John Wiley indicated he would not change the UW-Madison's sweatshop policy.
Liana Dalton, a UW-Madison senior and SLAC member, said SLAC began trying to contact Wiley regarding the issue in late September. Dalton said that, in October, the Associated Students of Madison approved a resolution by the Labor Licensing Policy Committee to amend UW-Madison's Code of Conduct regarding merchandise produced in sweatshops.
Wiley addressed the feasibility of this resolution in the letter.
'I am not opposed to the principle,' he wrote. 'I do need to be satisfied, however, that there is more than symbolism at stake, and that we are pursuing an effective, workable, long-term strategy that does not unfairly penalize certain workers.'
Wiley expressed intent to further discuss the resolution and called for more substantial investigation, but refused to 'make policy on the basis of a gut feeling.'
Despite the setback, SLAC member and UW-Madison freshman Chapin Smith expressed the organization's intent to continue pushing the resolution.
'From here, we're going to pursue a policy of direct action to try and get his attention and to apply pressure to him,' he said.
