Introduction
After a non-violent sit in at Duke University in 1997 to promote the use of non-sweatshop produced clothing at their campus clothing store, University of Arizona students followed shortly thereafter. University of Arizona students began putting pressure on their president Peter Likins and other administration in order to ensure the clothing being sold at their university bookstore was being made in adequate living and working conditions. They were particularly concerned with the clothing being sold with their logo on articles produced in “sweat shop-like” conditions.
Contents
Purpose, Goals and Formation
In 1997, University of Arizona students Monica Wilson and James Tracy started a group called Students Against Sweatshops (SAS). The group eventually allied with the United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS), giving SAS a global database allowing them to connect with other students fighting the same cause.
The working conditions demanded by SAS were simple; -Workers must be receiving a living wage -there must be no discrimination against women -the names and locations of factories being used must be made available to the public -they must allow their conditions to be monitored by outsiders.
The online support for the SAS and USAS grew immensely after the Party of Five character played by Jennifer Love Hewitt arranged a Students Against Sweatshops sit in at her university.
1998
On February 25, 1998, twelve students protested outside the administration building by picketing, and surrounded President Peter Likens bombarding him with questions about the working conditions that their university clothing was made. President Likens invited protesters to attend a meeting with him, but noted that they were “not yet part of the conversation”.
In April 1998, students held a “Christmas in April” event where students donated their old Nikes in protest. Attached to the sneakers were lists of different human right abuses found at the Nike factories. Media attended the event, and later that day the SAS held a ‘teach in’, where they held a seminar on free trade and labour where over 50 people attended.
Despite their efforts, University of Arizona signed a contract with Nike on August 17. SAS said they knew it was going to happen, so instead of spending resources trying to stop the contract their focused on ways to void it.
SAS members achieved minor success when President Likins put a clause in the contract to allow monitoring bodies to ensure that Nike was following fair labour practices. If Nike knowingly violated these practices or human rights by subcontractors, the University would void the contract. It was at this time that the Students Against Sweatshops campaign gained traction and supporters across the university and nationwide.
1999
It wasn’t until March 1999 that the SAS sent letters to President Likins and all student groups asking for support in their campaign against sweatshops. The letters called for University of Arizona’s withdrawal from the Fair Labour Association if they could not adhere to the demands of the SAS. They received no answer from Likins.
On April 21, 1999 SAS members and supporters formed a group of 100 who marched the University of Arizona’s administration building and performed a skit to President Likin poking fun of the university’s partnership with the Fair Labour Association. The protesters then presented a petition with over 1000 student signatures saying they opposed University of Arizona’s participation with the FLA. Sixty-seven students stayed behind to participate in a sit-in outside the president’s office, and thirty students stayed nearly ten full days (255 hours).
Likins sat down with the protestors for over an hour and a half and agreed to support the campaign against the sweatshop manufactured clothing sold on campus, but would not commit to a deadline. Protesters were not satisfied without a specific date in mind, so the sit-in continued.
Outcome and Current
At the 255th hour of the sit-in, Likin agreed to the goals set by the SAS and to withdraw from the FLA by August 2000. The students and administration were able to reach a mutually acceptable agreement because they worked together to make sure the rights of overseas workers were protected and codes of conduct upheld.
Categories
Non violent action, University of Arizona, United Students Against Sweatshops, USAS, Sweat Shops, Sit In, Fair Labour Association