The accord we reached last fall is not a perfect agreement. But it does lay the foundation for creating a practical and enforceable monitoring system that will help improve working conditions. The agreement creates an industry-wide code of conduct and system to monitor participating companies for compliance through a prescribed monitoring process. It calls for the establishment of a new non-profit organization, the Fair Labor Association, with a permanent professional staff. We welcome the participation of the university community in this important process and on the board of this new organization.
Universities have a unique public standing in our society.
Your active participation in this effort to promote the rights of workers can both stimulate greater public discussion of these issues and influence the direction and development of the new Fair Labor Association. We hope you will give careful consideration to this issue and will join with us in support of this ambitious new endeavor that aims to ensure respect for basic rights for workers around the world.