I would like to make one observation about the New Era Cap issue that is getting discussed on campus. I have two college hats. I have a UB hat manufactured by New Era. I also have a College of William and Mary hat because my daughter went to school there. Both are excellent hats, nice big school logos, adjustable for head size, nice brim for shade, etc. As hats they are indistinguishable.
The hat from William and Mary is manufactured in Taiwan, Republic of China. New Era Cap manufactures its hats in Western New York, and, apparently, in Bangladesh. New Era is competing for sales with companies that manufacture hats all over the world with variable pay rates and working conditions. If New Era Cap Company loses the contract with UB, as seems to be urged by those protesting, does that make it more, or less, likely that its employees will be able to work and live decent lives in our area? My guess is that it would make it less likely.
So whose interests are served by encouraging UB to sever its contract with New Era Cap? The local New Era workers? They apparently want an improvement in their working conditions and pay. I support them in that. But if UB ends its contract, it would make it less likely that the company could offer good salary and working conditions and remain competitive with foreign producers.
Finally, if UB ends its contract with New Era, should it look to the company that supplies hats to William and Mary? Who wins then? Not the New Era employees.
