Brandeis agreed to pay an annual $1,000 membership fee to join the Worker's Rights Coalition, a labor group which advocates fair treatment for workers in the manufacturing industry. The Brandeis Labor Coalition (BLC) was a primary advocate of the agreement, which received approval by the Student Union last December. The administration accepted the membership resolution at that time but did not allocate funding for the required fee.

Head of University Services Mark Collins said that by affiliating itself with the Worker's Rights Coalition, the University is ensuring that it makes purchases with manufacturers that support "all those things that are good and decent and correct."

"We have aligned ourselves with workers, NGOs [non-governmental organizations], and colleges and universities to improve the conditions of workers who produce college apparel," Collins said.

BLC member Julie Miller '07 said that Brandeis profits from unfair labor by making a profit from the University bookstore, and that is makes sense for the administration to pay for membership.

Brandeis Chief Operating Officer Peter French, after discussions with members of the BLC, granted the necessary funding last week.

"We're just ecstatic that the administration decided to pay for it," said Miller. "It takes a whole burden off of the students who have to find this funding."

As a member of the coalition, Brandeis must develop and maintain a manufacturing code of conduct which will include provisions condemning child labor, the use of sweatshops and fair wage standards, Collins said.