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Posted: March 6, 2009

UNC to cut ties with apparel firm over sweatshops

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UNC-Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, N.C. — University of North Carolina Chancellor Holden Thorp said Friday the the school would end its licensing contract with an apparel firm next year because of labor violations.

The working conditions at Russell Athletic plants in Honduras didn't meet requirements UNC set a decade ago, he said. Russell makes and sells apparel with the UNC logo.

Thorp said the company's contract expires next March. If the company can document its plants meet the university's labor standards, UNC might consider renewing its license in April 2010.

"I do not take ending a partnership with a longtime licensee lightly," he wrote in a memo. "However, our expectations for our licensees are clear: Comply with our labor code and the protections it affords to the people who make these logoed products if you want to do business with Carolina."

Copyright 2011 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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13 Comments


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I would like to see all UNC licensed apparel being manufactured in North Carolina. Even though the price point would be higher, there would be fewer Walmart-level fans running around in $5 Tarheel hats. Raise the bar, Chapel Hill. You've diminished your own product enough already.
Click to view my profile CarolinaBluesman
March 6, 2009 9:43 p.m.
claytontarheel, tarheel merchandise is amongst the highest selling of COLLEGE apparel but not of apparel in the US. For that they are in line behind NYY, Red Sox, Dodgers, Braves, Packers, Cowboys, Patriots, Celtics, Lakers, Cavaliers, 49ers, Raiders, Giants, Heat, Knicks, Bears, Rangers, Flyers, Ohio State, LSU, Michigan, USC, UCLA....the list goes on....actually they are nowhwere near the top:)
lilloan
March 6, 2009 9:09 p.m.
I like the Russell apologists not even mentioning the loss of USA jobs buy moving to Honduras,I guess 75 dollars for some of these sweat shirts made abroad is mo profit for Russell.Surprised the anti-liberal moaners here didn't comment on the loss of jobs here for way over there. I for one will boycott Russell and no i am not union. Russell come on back home where you all belong.
Click to view my profile See Chart
March 6, 2009 8:38 p.m.
It took 10 years to figure out that companies open these offshore plants so they can run a sweat shop, and not pay much for labor??
SANDHILL
March 6, 2009 7:26 p.m.
Thanks psmolowitz for providing additional information. Workers should be treated fairly, but please, this article was far from detailed enough to allow an informed opinion - either positive or negative. Give more facts WRAL.
Click to view my profile ihateliberals
March 6, 2009 6:06 p.m.
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