Big news from the Worker-driven Social Responsibility front: New network of worker organizations and human rights groups dedicated to spreading WSR model launches communication work with beautiful new website…

The nascent Worker-driven Social Responsibility Network announced this morning the launch of its new website dedicated to serving “as a resource clearinghouse for the expanding field” of worker-centered, enforcement-focused social responsibility that is generating unprecedented results protecting workers’ fundamental human rights both here in this country’s fields and in the apparel factories of Bangladesh. 

We will have more on this exciting development in the days to come (at the moment, it’s all hands on deck in Immokalee as CIW staff and members scramble to prepare the community for a possible visit by the terrible Hurricane Irma…), but for now, here’s the text of the network’s announcement:

Friends and colleagues, Today we are thrilled to announce the launch of the Worker-driven Social Responsibility (WSR) Network website at http://wsr-network.org. The WSR Network seeks to promote a new and effective paradigm for protecting fundamental human rights in corporate supply chains, following more than three decades of failed corporate social responsibility and voluntary multi-stakeholder initiatives. The WSR approach emerged out of worker-led efforts, including the Fair Food Program in the US agricultural sector and the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh in that country’s garment industry.  In both cases, the WSR model’s track record of proven, measurable results stands alone as a true success story in the world of business and human rights.  The WSR Network website will serve as a resource clearinghouse for this expanding field. For the launch of the website, we are especially pleased to publish an excellent analytical overview by Jennifer Gordon, a Professor of Law at Fordham University, titled, “The Problems with Corporate Social Responsibility.” We hope that you will take some time to explore this piece — and the website — and then share it with your colleagues.  We look forward to working together in the months and years ahead to advance our shared objectives, The Worker-driven Social Responsibility Network     •    Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (UK)     •    Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha (MN)     •    Coalition of Immokalee Workers (FL)     •    Fair Food Standards Council (FL)     •    Migrant Justice (VT)     •    National Economic and Social Rights Initiative (NY)     •    T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights (NY)     •    Worker Rights Consortium (DC)

Check back soon for more on the new WSR initiative, including a closer look at the exciting new article by Professor Jennifer Gordon of School of Law at Fordham University linked in the announcement above!