ACTION ALERT: Protesting Students Arrested on GW Campus: Demand Their Release & a Sweat-Free Campus!

This information comes to us from United Students Against Sweatshops,3/29/04

This afternoon, a dozen United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) activists were arrested at the student union building (the Marvin Center) at George Washington University and also at Georgetown University. Their occupation of the student center was part of the organized National Student Labor Week of Action. The students are demanding that George Washington University uphold workers' rights by agreeing to a labor code of conduct, and affiliating with the independent monitoring agency - the Worker Rights Consortium - to help ensure that GW does not employ sweatshop labor. GW is the largest private employer in D.C.; its acquiescence to a just labor code would be significant for labor rights throughout our nation's capitol.

George Washington students have written an open letter to the GW Administration, insisting that the University abide by the basic rights due to workers everywhere. Some of their demands for the proposed Labor Code of Conduct, as written by the GW Progressive Student Union, include:

a) All university departments, contractors, subcontractors, or licensees must abide by the non-discrimination policy of The George Washington University

b) The George Washington University will enter into contracts with responsible contractors and subcontractors, only -- responsible in terms of workers' rights, human rights, and the environment

c) The university will remain neutral in the face of union organizing attempts by employees, both direct employees and contracted employees and require that contractors and subcontractors do the same.

d) The university will do business with union contractors and subcontractors only, in industries where this is possible

e) The university will enter into fair contract negotiations with all unions representing direct employees

f) All university employees (direct, contracted, and subcontracted) shall earn a living wage

g) All university employees (direct, contracted, and subcontracted) shall receive affordable healthcare benefits

h) No person performing a service for The George Washington University shall be subject to harassment in the workplace

Please fax a letter (sample below) to President Trachtenberg and express your outrage at the arrest of students peacefully protesting the exploitation of workers on their campus. Urge President Trachtenberg to drop the charges against the students, today! Demand that George Washington University adopt a worker rights code of conduct and affiliate with the Worker Rights Consortium immediately!

Call or Fax GW University's President Trachtenberg

Phone: 202-994-6500 Fax: 202-944-9304

Dear President Trachtenberg,

I am appalled to hear about the arrest of 13 students from the George Washington University and Georgetown University in the Marvin Center. I find it shocking that the university would take such drastic action against students exercising their right to protest. I fully support the efforts of these students to support GW workers, and I demand that the university drop the charges against them immediately and agree to meet with them to discuss these important issues. Further, I join the students in urging George Washington University to adopt a workers' rights code of conduct and affiliate with the Worker Rights Consortium at once.

It is absolutely unacceptable that an institution of higher learning would take such action against peaceful protesters. A university in the heart of the nation's capitol should certainly be teaching its student body about the democratic ideals that are the foundation of our country's government. The administration must teach by example. Drop the charges against GW students now!

Sincerely,

[your name]