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by Nick Penzenstadler

Friday, September 29, 2006

Attacking global textile sweatshops one factory at a time, the Student Labor Action Coalition had its kickoff meeting last night.

At the meeting, SLAC aimed to spread awareness of the group's mission to end sweatshop labor — especially by those producing University of Wisconsin apparel — and shared examples of peaceful resistance tactics.

Molly Glasgow, United Students Against Sweatshops regional officer and UW student, spoke about the sweatshop conditions she witnessed on her trip to Bangladesh this summer.

"They aren't paid what they deserve. They aren't given water to drink and work in hot, crowded, dusty factories, which leads to respiratory illnesses," she said. "Twelve-hour days are normal. Some work 16, and many work for 24-hour shifts where if they don't work, they lose their jobs."

Former SLAC member Bob Hemauer, who graduated from UW in 2000, returned for the kickoff meeting to share examples of past anti-sweatshop protests aimed at the university administration.

The anti-sweatshop group took action in 1999 when the university inked a major deal with Reebok at the height of the company's sweatshop labor allegations.

The meeting also marked the one-year anniversary of the major success story from 2005, according to SLAC and Dane County Board member Ashok Kumar.

"Last year we worked on the Designated Supplier Program," he said. "Only the factories on the list that have democratic unions can produce apparel for the university."

SLAC member Silas McPherson said though it may be tempting, students should not stop buying UW apparel because it would have a negative effect on the laborers.

Although the factories are spread across several continents, McPherson said, sweatshop labor is a worldwide issue.

"It isn't any specific country, it's the system," he said. "It's the way the global clothing industry operates to make the most money."

Hemauer said SLAC aligned with Indiana University and University of Michigan to stage their second sit-in in 2000 to achieve more progress for their movement to end sweatshop labor for university apparel. A handful of activists — including Hemauer — sat outside the chancellor's office while hundreds of supporters rushed the hall.

Hemauer's group used bike locks to restrain themselves. It took riot-gear clad police armed with pneumatic saws to clear them from their post.

"There's nothing more fun than scaring cops," Hemauer said.

Kumar highlighted other resistance tactics where the group caused a stir to obtain a reaction from the university.

"We've done phone bombings, where we constantly call the offices, [and] we create fax jams," he said.

Hemauer said spending time protesting accomplishes much more than sitting on a committee.

"My best advice is don't waste your time on … committees. They suck leadership and get dick done," he said. "Direct action can work, if you make a good plan with a solid exit strategy."

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Anonymous (September 29, 2006 @ 9:01am):

People don't understand that sweatshop labor actually is good for business and the people who make the products

Anonymous (September 29, 2006 @ 12:44pm):

molly glasgow is not a student

Anonymous (September 29, 2006 @ 9:42pm):

"People don't understand that sweatshop labor actually is good for business and the people who make the products"

Yeah people are just lining up to get raped, get forced abortions, and die in factory fires. what's good for business is never good for humanity.