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No Sweat, Footprint Clothing & PCS - unions' purchasing policy survey
17 Jan '06
3 min read
A survey report presented by The Public and Commercial Services (PCS), No Sweat and Footprint Clothing reveals there is a long way to go before unions' purchasing practices catch up with both their stated principles and members' aspirations.
Among the surprising findings were:
- Eight in ten unions responding to the survey had no ethical / environmental purchasing policy statement.
- The ethical behaviour of supplier companies was bottom of the list of unions' considerations when purchasing goods, followed closely by environmental concerns. Quality and price were considered much more important.
Unions representing a total of 2.4 million workers (around 37 percent of total UK union membership) responded to the survey. It reveals the obstacles facing unions looking for progressive suppliers, as well as campaigners looking for principled champions and an 'ethical' industry trying to build its future on forward thinking customers.
The survey also highlights the contradictory impact unions are having on fair trade and the environment and makes recommendations on how to move the agenda forward.
When asked where they would look for advice on suppliers, 60 percent of unions said they would use a supplier's own policy document. Only 20 percent said they would look to a multi-stakeholder initiative like the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI) for accreditation or endorsement.
Commenting on this, Mick Duncan of No Sweat said: "Given the bitter experience of high profile fashion companies adopting codes of conduct and vaunting ethical statements while continuing to source from low-wage, anti-union and oppressive economies and employers, it's surprising that trade union purchasers should show such trust in their suppliers."
Among the surprising findings were:
- Eight in ten unions responding to the survey had no ethical / environmental purchasing policy statement.
- The ethical behaviour of supplier companies was bottom of the list of unions' considerations when purchasing goods, followed closely by environmental concerns. Quality and price were considered much more important.
Unions representing a total of 2.4 million workers (around 37 percent of total UK union membership) responded to the survey. It reveals the obstacles facing unions looking for progressive suppliers, as well as campaigners looking for principled champions and an 'ethical' industry trying to build its future on forward thinking customers.
The survey also highlights the contradictory impact unions are having on fair trade and the environment and makes recommendations on how to move the agenda forward.
When asked where they would look for advice on suppliers, 60 percent of unions said they would use a supplier's own policy document. Only 20 percent said they would look to a multi-stakeholder initiative like the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI) for accreditation or endorsement.
Commenting on this, Mick Duncan of No Sweat said: "Given the bitter experience of high profile fashion companies adopting codes of conduct and vaunting ethical statements while continuing to source from low-wage, anti-union and oppressive economies and employers, it's surprising that trade union purchasers should show such trust in their suppliers."
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