UW protest of sweatshop labor
By
SEATTLE--Some 150 members and supporters of the Student Labor Action Project (SLAP) confronted the Board of Regents of the University of Washington to demand that UW refuse to renew its contract with Nike.
SLAP wants the university to put pressure on Nike to abide by labor standards set out by the Workers' Rights Consortium (WRC), which inspects factories around the world to make sure they meet minimal conditions.
Over a year ago, the UW president and regents agreed to make sure future contracts for apparel associated with the school would abide by the standards of the WRC and its Designated Suppliers Program.
However, when the contract with Nike to provide UW sports team with uniforms and other equipment came up for renewal, the UW administration tried to wriggle out of its commitment. The Nike contract is worth $39 million.
With the board of regents set to meet on campus November 20, students rallied outside and then marched into the meeting room before the Regents got there. Most students wore gags in their mouths to symbolize workers being silenced by their lack of rights.
Due to the turnout, the regents changed their agenda and let SLAP speak first. SLAP speakers clearly explained the issue and urged the UW to take a leadership position in the fight to improve conditions for workers around the world.
Several regents spoke, expressing "sympathy" for SLAP's position and insisting they wanted the same thing as activists, but "have a different way of getting there." That way, according to regents, is to pressure the company from the inside, as a Nike customer.
But the real pressure comes from refusing to do business with firms that rely on sweatshop labor. Once they have the business, Nike can ignore the concerns of their customers. If UW won't refuse to renew when the contract comes up, why should Nike listen to it?
The regents voted to renew the contract with Nike. Demonstrators left the room, chanting "Workers' rights are human rights, we won't give up the fight!" SLAP is planning to keep the pressure on as part of the national campaign of United Students Against Sweatshops.
