Support Students Arrested in Living Wage Sit-In

This action has expired

Twelve University of Michigan (UM) students were arrested on April 3 for occupying the office of UM President Mary Sue Coleman. The students, members of Students Organizing for Labor and Economic Equality (SOLE), were demanding that the university sign on to the Designated Suppliers Program (DSP). Universities that are part of the DSP have agreed to use university-licensed apparel from suppliers that pay a living wage to their employees and respect their employees’ right to organize and bargain collectively. So far, more than 30 universities nationwide have adopted the DSP.

Following a sit-in in 2000, UM adopted a “Code of Conduct” that promised to protect workers producing university-licensed apparel from harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Students contend that the school has failed to adequately monitor the actual working conditions at supplier factories, and that a more comprehensive commitment to workers’ rights is needed.

In the coming weeks, SOLE members will be meeting with UM’s Board of Regents and with UM President Mary Sue Coleman. SOLE is calling upon supporters to phone the university’s regents and Coleman to protest the arrests and demand that the University of Michigan adopt the DSP.

For a call script, go here. Or phone or email UM’s trustees using the following list: Julia Donovan Darlow, 313/690-3054 or jdarlow AT umich.edu; Olivia Maynard, 810/239-1535 or omaynard AT umich.edu; Katherine White, 313/577-1054 or kewhite AT umich.edu; and Mary Sue Coleman, 734/764-6270 or marysuec AT umich.edu.