CAUT has become a member of the Maquila Solidarity Network, a Canadian advocacy group campaigning to end sweatshop abuses in the global garment industry.

"Universities and colleges have played an important role in trying to end the exploitation of garment workers around the world," said James Turk, executive director of CAUT. "Many post-secondary institutions have adopted 'No Sweat' policies that would limit their clothing purchases to manufacturers who agree to adhere to acceptable labour standards and to accept external monitoring of their compliance."

The CAUT executive voted to support No Sweat campaigns at Canadian universities and colleges and staged a No Sweat fashion show at the November Council meeting to highlight the issue.

Canadian universities with No Sweat policies include Alberta, Laurentian, Western Ontario, Waterloo, Guelph, Toronto, Dalhousie, Montréal, Memorial, McMaster and Trent. Campaigns for No Sweat policies are also underway at half a dozen other universities.

"The Maquila Solidarity Network has been helpful in our work," Turk said. "It has valuable information it exchanges with many groups in the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Tapping that resource considerably improves our knowledge of what's happening and allows us to provide our membership with relevant and up-to-date information about international solidarity campaigns."

Since 1994, MSN has played a leading role in Canada's anti-sweatshop movement, combining research, corporate campaigning and engagement, coalition building, advocacy, exchange and solidarity. More than 400 individuals and organizations across Canada are already part of the network.

For more information about the Maquila Solidarity Network campaigns go to
www.maquilasolidarity.org.