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A factory in China that produces USC logo lapel pins has recently been identified as a sweatshop by the National Labor Committee, a labor rights and human rights advocacy group
According to the NLC report, girls as young as 15 regularly work 15-hour days, seven days a week at the Junxingye factory in Dongguan City, China, occasionally working mandatory overtime for shifts up to 25 hours long.
The girls and women of the Junxingye factory earn 26.5 cents an hour-less than half of China's minimum wage of 55 cents. After mandatory deductions for food and lodging, they take home only nine cents an hour.
The NLC report quotes one girl, who had just worked a 19-hour-shift, as saying, "Jesus, take pity on me. I'm going to die of exhaustion."
USC is affiliated with two fair labor groups that set standards for labor practices: The Fair Labor Association and, as of last spring, the Worker Rights Consortium. The WRC is made up of 175 colleges and universities that pledge to use only labor-friendly suppliers. But there is no penalty or sanction for a school that violates the Code of Conduct.
The NLC report said that the Junxingye employees live in "primitive and filthy company dorms" and are not told the names of the chemicals they are forced to handle as part of their job. They have no sick or maternity leave-both of which are mandated by Chinese law.
Amanda Tatum, a second-year international studies student, said that sweatshop labor hurts not only the workers, but the university as well.
"Personal integrity is in our Carolina Creed," Tatum said. That USC sells anything made in a sweatshop "doesn't make me want to support our school by wearing Gamecock gear. It's a shame."
Tatum was part of the push to get USC to join the Worker Rights Consortium. She said that students now want the university to also join the Designated Supplier Program, which would bind the university to producing its apparel in worker-friendly factories. The price of apparel would increase by approximately 50 cents an item.
"Being affiliated with the DSP would give us a place to get factories that meet our needs," Tatum said. "We're waiting on administration. The administration has been very willing to work with us so far."
Helen Ziegler, the director of Business Affairs, said that USC had no knowledge of any sweatshop conditions in factories that make USC logo merchandise.
"We have sent this information to both the Worker Rights Consortium and the Fair Labor Association and requested that they look into this matter and work with us to determine what the facts are in this situation so appropriate action can be taken," Ziegler said.
Ziegler said that three different licensees could potentially have been doing business with the company associated with the Junxingye factory, and that as soon as they find out which it is, they will contact that licensee.
"Our goal is that the licensee will bring about the changes that need to be made," Ziegler said, "If they're not willing, our step will be to cease doing business with that company."
The Junxingye factory makes enameled lapel pins for USC and several other universities, including the University of Montana, Rutgers and Brigham Young, as well as the United States Army and Navy. It also, according to the NLC, makes crucifixes sold at New York's famous St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Andy Shaffer, the general manager of the University Bookstore, said that all vendors who sell merchandise in his store have to sign a statement saying they uphold labor rights guidelines.
If the vendor is found to violate the rules, it goes on probation and another offense will end their contract. "I'm very proud of my company and our stance on this,' Shaffer said.
Shaffer said that the only lapel pins sold in the University Bookstore are made by a company called CSI and are assembled in the U.S.
Jane Luxner, a fourth-year French major who is also working to get the Designated Supplier Program adopted, said students have a decade-long history of impacting the worker's rights movement.
"Sweatshop labor hurts anybody, especially universities, who are often leaders in raising awareness," Luxner said.
Matt Sulem, a third-year advertising major, said that, while he's against sweatshop labor, he does not consider that when buying clothes.
"I haven't really thought about it," Sulem said. "I wouldn't want prices to go up."
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