Reports
Raw reports and detailed information about current SLAC goings-on.
Students Deliver "Thank You" Cake to Chancellor Martin
November 9, 2009
At noon today, a group of SLAC members and allies delivered a homemade chocolate cake to Chancellor Martin in order to thank her for her swift action to rein in UW licensee Nike’s abusive sweatshop labor practices.
The cake, dark chocolate with cherry frosting, was a gesture to thank the Chancellor for putting Nike on notice after the company failed to pay legally mandated severance pay to workers at two Honduran factories that produced collegiate apparel. Sadly, the Chancellor was occupied when we arrived, so we settled down in the hallway outside her office, enjoyed some cake in her absence, and left the rest for her.
Later in the afternoon, SLAC received an email from Chancellor Martin praising the cake as "fabulous" and SLAC members as "great cake-makers".
We hope that she will follow through on her commitment to hold Nike accountable, and will not hesitate to sever our contract with Nike if the company fails to pay its workers.
So what comes next? We invite students, allies, and the media to attend a public meeting of the Labor Licensing Policy Committee this Friday at 12pm in Bascom Hall. Chancellor Martin is expected to attend the meeting, which will focus on the UW's next steps on the Nike case.
Press Release: Students to Deliver “Thank You” Cake to Chancellor Martin
Celebration comes after UW pressures Nike on workers’ issues
November 8, 2009 — At 12pm tomorrow, Monday, November 9, 2009, the Student Labor Action Coalition will deliver a homemade cake to Chancellor Martin in order to thank her for her swift action to rein in UW licensee Nike’s abusive sweatshop labor practices. Students will meet outside Bascom Hall before taking the cake inside to the Chancellor’s office.
In January 2009, Nike closed two of its plants in Honduras, Vision Tex and Hugger de Honduras, and refused to pay its workers the legally mandated severance and other benefits they were owed. Nike still owes the workers of these two factories over $2.1 million. In addition, there were serious freedom of association violations reported at Vision Tex before the closure.
As a licensee of UW insignia, Nike is required to follow the University’s code of conduct, which stipulates, in part, that companies comply with local laws. “By violating the code, Nike has broken a legal agreement with the University of Wisconsin and tarnished this institution’s good name,” said Max Klos, SLAC member and UW sophomore.
When challenged to address these infractions, Nike contended that it was not responsible, claiming that the code of conduct does not apply. However, according to a report by the Worker Rights Consortium, the international labor monitoring organization which investigates such cases for the UW, Nike has a clear responsibility to ensure that its workers are paid.
Earlier this semester, SLAC brought the issue to the Labor Licensing Policy Committee, the shared governance body that was created by student pressure to advise the Chancellor on garment worker issues. The LLPC subsequently recommended to Chancellor Martin on October 10 that she require Nike to submit a full remediation plan by November 11th. On November 3rd, she agreed with the committee’s recommendation and sent a letter to Nike.
“Chancellor Martin has taken some proactive steps in the right direction and we just want to thank her for putting Nike on notice and beginning the process of making the Hugger and Vision Tex workers whole. We’re bringing her a cake to thank her for her promise to force Nike to just do the right thing.” said Jan Van Tol, SLAC member and UW senior.
Chancellor Martin is expected to attend the November 13th meeting of the LLPC, where Nike’s response will be reviewed and future actions decided on. Students and the general public are invited to attend.
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SLAC Protests Change to Union Worker Policy
November 9, 2009
Last Friday, November 6, SLAC members delivered a letter to Chancellor Martin protesting a recent reversal of the university's policy of allowing workers in AFSCME Local 171 to take time off to attend union events.
We call on the university to rescind this policy, which disproportionately affects second and third shift workers — exactly those most in need of the protection a union provides — making it nearly impossible for them to participate in their union without going three days straight without sleep.
On Wednesday at 6:30pm, the issue will be brought to the ASM Student Council at a meeting in the Hearing Room of the Student Activity Center, 333 East Campus Mall. We encourage students to attend this meeting and express their support for campus workers!
Press Release: Students Protest Campus Worker Policy Change
SLAC says recent move by UW hurts rights of most vulnerable workers
November 9, 2009 — On Friday, the Student Labor Action Coalition delivered a letter to UW Chancellor Martin protesting the university’s recent unilateral change to a policy that allows campus workers to attend union functions. The change disproportionately affects second and third shift workers, which is the most diverse workforce on campus, with 61% comprised of people of color.
AFSCME Local 171, which represents 1,600 workers on campus, has had an agreement with the university for the past 25 years which allows workers to take off work 10 hours before an event, allowing second and third shift workers to rest before the event. With the change, workers are only allowed off for the time of the event, forcing night workers into an impossible schedule.
“Not only is this an attempt by the administration to bust the union, it’s also dangerous. Workers who want to attend a one day union event would be forced to stay awake for three days straight under the new policy, which is clearly neither healthy nor safe,” said Jonah Zinn, SLAC member and UW sophomore.
In addition to the letter, SLAC is submitting a resolution to the ASM Student Council condemning the change and asking that it be reversed. The Student Council will consider the resolution at its November 11 meeting.
“We ask that the Student Council and Chancellor Martin recognize the crucial role that workers fulfill on this campus. As a university committed to social justice, it is essential that we recognize and uphold the right of all workers to organize, collectively bargain, and freely associate,” said Jan Van Tol, SLAC member and UW senior.
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Letter from SLAC to Chancellor Martin
November 6, 2009
Dear Chancellor Martin:
As you know, AFSCME 171 represents 1,600 unionized campus workers and has done so for the past 30 years. An essential part of being a unionized worker is the ability to participate in union functions, and a clause in the Local 171 contract allows workers to take time off from work in order to attend.
25 years ago, Local 171 formed a verbal agreement with the university regarding the implementation of this clause. It was agreed that second and third shift workers would be allowed to take off 10 hours before the start of an event. For example, for a conference that starts at 8:30am, workers could leave work at 10:30pm the night before so that they could get some sleep, and would also be allowed to take off the shift following the conference.
Recently, the university administration has broken this deal and chosen instead to interpret the contract in a hostile manner. Under the new policy, workers are only let off work for the time of the event, forcing them to go days without sleep in order to attend union functions. This is obviously unacceptable; a third shift worker, for example, would literally have to stay awake for three days straight in order to attend a one day event. It is inhumane, unsafe, and students are frankly appalled that your administration would allow it.
The largest group affected by this change are the 394 custodians who work second and third shifts. They are the lowest paid workers on campus with a starting wage of $11.28 per hour, and they also constitute the most diverse workforce on campus: 61% are people of color and 31% are women.
Your administration’s recent action contributes to a hostile working environment in which workers are disrespected and not allowed the basic right of assembly. The university should treat all its workers with equal respect; this means acknowledging and correcting practices that disproportionately discourage collective action among traditionally oppressed peoples. It would be truly unfortunate if this signalled a move towards union-busting tactics on the part of the administration.
We look forward to your prompt response and resolution of this matter.
Sincerely,
The Student Labor Action Coalition