Lands End is seeing the same kind of pressure from the Workers Rights Consortium that nearly drove New Era to move their production overseas. WRC conducted an assessment at the companys Primo Factory in El Salvador, which is a source for much of Lands End merchandise. WRC said the factory systematically “blacklisted” workers who were perceived to be unionists.
Loraine Clewer, the regional director for Latin America at the WRC told SEW that these practices “violate international law and El Salvador laws on freedom to unionize.” Clewer said that the WRC has been trying to work with Lands End to fix the issues, but said the company was not cooperating, and denied the charges.
As a direct result of the WRCs report, Columbia University has pulled their licensing agreement with Lands End. The University said that Lands End was in violation of Fair Labor Association guidelines against union blacklisting and cited “code of conduct” for severing ties with Lands End.
