What Schools are Doing

Waverley College

At Waverley College, a school of some 1200 students, the Fair School Wear campaign began with some of the school's basketball team uniforms. Potential suppliers were contacted regarding how their garments were made, and face to face meetings between representatives from the school and the manufacturer ensued. A satisfactory supplier was selected. The campaign gathered momentum within the school community, spreading to the sourcing of other sporting uniforms and into other components of the Waverley uniform. The school principal announced a target of having 100% of its uniform components Fair Wear compliant by the school's centenary celebrations in 2003. Enthusiastic students have also been involved in distributing information about the Fair Wear campaign at local community events.

St Joseph's College East Gosford

St Joseph's Social Justice Team have been hard at work developing a skit to be performed at their local mall. Termed "Operation: Rerum Novarum" the street performance accurately portrays the situation of outworkers in the clothing industry and the responses of retailers and manufacturers to the reality of the daily lives of these workers.

Below is an excerpt from the script written by Johanna Elms - a talented year 10 student from St Josephs:

"Speaker: There is a dream, my friends, a dream where every worker is considered equal. A dream where every worker is paid an award rate and is able to work in conditions suitable for manufacturing. A dream where children are not invloved in inappropriate home based production and no worker is subject to abuse or intimidation. There is no such notion of "insufficient funds". We should refuse to beleive that the Bank of Justice is bankrupt.We should refuse to beleive that their is a shortage of payment to hamper the demands of riches in freedom and the security of justice. It is time Australia was educated of the exploiting position many of her workers are placed in the textiles industry.

There is a dream, my friends, in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, all workers in Australia deserve the right to a living wage, to organise, and to work in a safe and healthy environment."

For a full copy of this script please contact the Fair Wear NSW Office.

Some General Suggestions

Below is a list of suggestions developed by and for students to raise community awareness.

• Poster around school.
• Speak to the school assembly.
• Write letters to the mayor, local citizens.
• Actively look for the "No Sweatshop" label and ask for it in local stores.
• Raise the issue of outworkers on local radio.
• Hold a fashion parade!