Workers' rights protest enters second week
By: Sergio Tovar, Senior Writer
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: University
The student protest aiming to convince Chancellor James Moeser to sign the Designated Suppliers Program is entering its second week.
Members of Student Action with Workers, a chapter of United Students Against Sweatshops, started their protest April 17.
Students will mark their first week of protest, which has included a sit-in inside South Building, with a rally at noon today.
SAW members are waiting for the University to join the DSP, which would require UNC to source most of its apparel to factories that allow workers to organize and pay reasonable living wages.
Moeser rejected to join the program last year, citing questions about the program's effectiveness.
Salma Mirza, a protest organizer, said about 20 people have been staying in the building every night for the past week.
She added that dozens of people have come in during the day to relieve other students who have to attend to their academic responsibilities. But Mirza is committed to the cause.
"I haven't gone to my classes at all," she said. "We're going to stay in here throughout exams."
She added that protesters will continue rotating so they can take their finals.
Chuck Stone - long-time activist, civil rights leader and former UNC professor - will deliver the keynote address for today's rally, which will take place on the steps of South Building.
Professors, representatives from labor unions and more than 20 representatives for organizations supporting the DSP will also speak at the event.
Mike McFarland, director of University communications, said protestors will not be removed from South Building unless they break any of the ground rules that were set up in a meeting between officials from the Division of Student Affairs and the Department of Public Safety on April 16.
"The students are still following the ground rules," McFarland said.
Protesters are allowed to remain in South Building after business hours as long as they are affiliated with the University and don't let anybody into the building after 5 p.m.
Other protesters are not allowed to enter the building after that time to relieve their cohorts. A DPS officer also remains in the building.
McFarland said protesters also must "respect University property," refrain from disrupting regular business hour operations and keep from occupying any offices.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
Members of Student Action with Workers, a chapter of United Students Against Sweatshops, started their protest April 17.
Students will mark their first week of protest, which has included a sit-in inside South Building, with a rally at noon today.
SAW members are waiting for the University to join the DSP, which would require UNC to source most of its apparel to factories that allow workers to organize and pay reasonable living wages.
Moeser rejected to join the program last year, citing questions about the program's effectiveness.
Salma Mirza, a protest organizer, said about 20 people have been staying in the building every night for the past week.
She added that dozens of people have come in during the day to relieve other students who have to attend to their academic responsibilities. But Mirza is committed to the cause.
"I haven't gone to my classes at all," she said. "We're going to stay in here throughout exams."
She added that protesters will continue rotating so they can take their finals.
Chuck Stone - long-time activist, civil rights leader and former UNC professor - will deliver the keynote address for today's rally, which will take place on the steps of South Building.
Professors, representatives from labor unions and more than 20 representatives for organizations supporting the DSP will also speak at the event.
Mike McFarland, director of University communications, said protestors will not be removed from South Building unless they break any of the ground rules that were set up in a meeting between officials from the Division of Student Affairs and the Department of Public Safety on April 16.
"The students are still following the ground rules," McFarland said.
Protesters are allowed to remain in South Building after business hours as long as they are affiliated with the University and don't let anybody into the building after 5 p.m.
Other protesters are not allowed to enter the building after that time to relieve their cohorts. A DPS officer also remains in the building.
McFarland said protesters also must "respect University property," refrain from disrupting regular business hour operations and keep from occupying any offices.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Ed Williams (alumnus)
posted 4/24/08 @ 5:00 PM EST
I am curious about whether there is a relationship between SAW and Students for a Democratic Society, which came out from under a rock a couple of years ago. (Continued…)
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