Interim chancellor’s statement on WRC report

Here is a statement from Interim Chancellor David Ward regarding adidas and a new report from the Worker Rights Consortium about the PT Kizone factory:

“On Thursday, Jan. 19, I received the report of the Worker Rights Consortium and its assessment of the conduct of apparel brands at the PT Kizone factory in Indonesia. I thank the WRC for the thorough and complete work that it produced.

“As I have said in the past, UW–Madison considers this situation to be a serious matter and has many additional questions for adidas Group.  I continue to be deeply concerned about the reports of what took place at PT Kizone.

“I am in the process of reviewing the report with our lawyers, the Labor Licensing Policy Committee and the University Committee. I invite their input, and we will be asking adidas Group to provide a detailed response, in writing by February 2.

“I also believe that a positive resolution to assist the PT Kizone workers is more likely to be successful if it is supported by a coalition of other universities who are engaged in exclusive sideline apparel agreements with adidas.

“To that end, I am asking the Athletic Department, the LLPC, student government and other interested parties to reach out to colleagues at peer institutions who also have relationships with adidas. Many peer universities have previously shown a commitment to social responsibility and I am hopeful that they will share our concern and lend support to our efforts.

“This university has been and will continue to be a strong leader in working to ensure socially responsibility behavior by companies producing collegiate licensed apparel. I look forward to a positive resolution to this matter.”