SOLE members storm president's ofce

Organization pleased with response

Twenty students crowded an elevator in the Fleming Administration Building on Friday with the intention of delivering a letter of ultimatum to University President Lee Bollinger.

After a short meeting with three leaders of Students Organizing for Labor and Economic Equality, part of a larger national movement to address the issue of sweatshop labor in the collegiate apparel industry, Bollinger and the students proceeded to the Regents' Room for a round-table discussion on the topic.

"It needs immediate attention," LSA junior Andy Cornell told Bollinger at the meeting.

The College Licensing Company - which handles contracts between manufacturers and 161 colleges including the University - plans to produce a code banning unfair labor practices and substandard working conditions in the collegiate apparel industry.

SOLE, along with its affiliate organizations at universities nationwide, has said the current code's language is not strong enough. The groups said the code needs to include full public disclosure of factory locations and ownership and also a "living wage" - a salary that allows employees to maintain their living costs.

By the group's March 12 ultimatum deadline, SOLE representatives said they want the University to stand up for public disclosure and a living wage for laborers working for collegiate apparel manufacturers.

"I really hope President Bollinger will take a stance on the living wage," said LSA junior Joe Sexaur, a SOLE organizer.

SOLE's protest Friday follows sit-in strikes at Duke and Georgetown universities and at the University of Wisconsin's Madison campus.

"Public disclosure will make it worthwhile for companies to clean up conditions," Duke student Tico Almeida said.

Almieda, a leader of Duke's Students Against Sweatshops, participated in a 30-hour sit-in at the Duke administration building in January. He said Duke administrators agreed to sever contracts with companies that will not agree to public disclosure within the next year.

Almieda said that if the University decides to take similar action, universities nationwide may be more likely to follow actions of Duke, Georgetown and Wisconsin. "The addition of Michigan would create a great snowball effect," Almieda said.

Bollinger told the group that sweatshop labor in the collegiate apparel industry is an issue he wants to address. The University currently has a multi-million dollar apparel contract with Nike.

"I care deeply about this issue," Bollinger said. "We are at the right stage to talk seriously about this."

Members of SOLE plan to meet with University General Counsel Marvin Krislov tomorrow to present their proposal for public disclosure and the living wage.

"We are not very far apart at all, we just need to talk more," Bollinger said.

Members of SOLE said Bollinger plans to make a statement on the issue after he returns from a trip to South Africa next week.

LSA junior Mara Luna told Bollinger at the meeting about her visit with factory workers in El Salvador last August. As part of a group of students from Cleveland, Luna and 12 other high school and college students met with unionized women who produce clothing for JC Penny, GAP and Liz Claiborne.

Luna said the women told her that applying corporate pressure in the United States is a better way to take action than boycotting the products they produce.

"They really rely on us to help," Luna said. "We have a lot more strength."

SOLE members were pleased with Bollinger's response to their ultimatum.

"I was very impressed in the way he listened to us," Luna said.

SOLE members said the University needs make the labor issue a priority.

"I know he is committed to this, but he is administration and it's all a matter of timing," said LSA senior and SOLE member Trevor Gardner, adding that "it's our responsibility to make sure he makes this a priority."

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