MADISON, Wis.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has canceled a licensing contract with New Era Cap Co., citing allegations of discrimination and anti-union activity at one of its factories.
The action is part of a growing national movement to get the company, the exclusive cap supplier for Major League Baseball, to improve its labor practices at a distribution center in Mobile, Ala.
The NAACP released a report Monday accusing the company of paying Black workers less than Whites, passing minorities over for promotions and firing employees involved in organizing workers. The Buffalo, N.Y.,-based company called the allegations baseless.
At a news conference in Washington, NAACP Chair Julian Bond and Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa called on Major League Baseball leaders to pressure the company to stop the practices. They both praised UW-Madison’s action.
“New Era should take note of that,” Hoffa told reporters. “This could spread to a number of universities and other places where caps are supplied.”
New Era spokeswoman Dana Marciniak said the company was disappointed by the move, which she said was the first time a university had canceled a contract over the allegations.
