Cornell cuts ties with JanSport

Cornell University has severed its ties with JanSport on Oct 16 following the backpack and collegiate apparel manufacturer's failure to sign the Accord on Fire and Building Safety, reports New York based Ithaca Journal.

However, Cornel keeps its door open to VF Corporation, owner of JanSport, and says it will resume business ties with VF Corporation if it changes its mind about signing the Accord.

In May, Cornell president David J Skorton had urged VF Corporation CEO Eric Wiseman in a letter to be part of Accord, a legally binding agreement that has already been signed by 150 apparel brands.

The agreement requires that clothing retailers ensure remediation works in faulty sourcing factories and also provide funds to factory owners to carry out the corrective action plans.

Reminding of VF's enormous presence and its responsibility to improve worker's safety in RMG factories, Skorton wrote, "Although VF and JanSport are separate business entities, VF's practices regarding labour compliance and practices govern all production globally and are applied to all VF subsidiaries."