US and Canadian university students have joined apparel and service workers in a boycott of casual and sportswear clothing designer American Eagle Outfitters, pledging not to purchase clothing from the chain store until it enforces its code of conduct at the company’s Canadian distribution contractor, National Logistics Services (NLS).

Since American Eagle sold its Canadian distribution operations to NLS, which it owned and operated until early 2006, workers have reported that conditions have deteriorated, wages have stagnated and that there is now little job security. Furthermore, they have reportedly faced harassment and intimidation when they trying to form a union, in spite of American Eagle’s code of conduct for vendors and contractors which specifically protects freedom of association and other basic rights for the employees of its contractors.