Associated Press - November 19, 2010
MADISON, Wis.---The University of Wisconsin-Madison is joining other schools around the country in purchasing apparel from a Dominican Republic factory that pays its workers a living wage.
The T-shirts and sweatshirts are sold at the university under the name Alta Gracia Apparel, which is named for the town the factory is located, Villa Altagracia.
The fair labor model pays 130 unionized workers $114 per week, which is three times the local minimum wage.
Knights Apparel finances the factory, which opened in April in the space once occupied by the BJ&B factory -- known for labor rights abuses.
UW-Madison says all the school's licensees agree to a code of conduct requiring humane standards of production, but Alta Gracia goes beyond those requirements.
This brand is committed to a business model that pays the 130 unionized workers who sew the clothing at a factory in the Dominican Republic a wage that is more than three times the local minimum wage -- $114 per week compared to $33.
"It's up to the public now," says Patrick McGowan, University Book Store president. "We can buy whatever. The university can support whatever. But until the public buys it, it doesn't mean anything. The good news with this product is it stands up well when you compare it side-to-side
- how it feels, how it looks, and how it's priced --to other brands. So the public can get a very similar product at a very similar cost, knowing it's made under a ‘living wage' situation."
McGowan says the Alta Gracia items are priced at $15.99 for T-shirts and $34.99 for hooded sweatshirts, which is comparable to similar merchandise produced by others.
Those that produce logoed apparel for UW-Madison already must follow a university code of conduct for producers, but Alta Gracia's commitments go well beyond these minimal standards. In addition, the Worker Rights Consortium, an independent group that typically works as an industry watchdog, was brought on board to make sure the brand operates a worker-friendly environment.
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