Support University of Michigan Students Who are Sitting in Right Now!

A year and a half ago, students at the University of Michigan presented their admistration with a policy that would ensure that University of Michigan apparel was produced in facctories in which workers earned a living wage and had the right to form a union. Today, while union factories around the world have been forced to close their doors, the university refuses to take action. Students are currently sitting in to demand that the university adopt a policy that would ensure that wokers' rights are respected in the production of University of Michigan apparel. Send a message to the University of Michigan: a commitment to workers' rights means a commitment to factories in which the rights of workers are respected. Also, please call President Coleman and demand that the University of Michigan listen to students and adopt the DSP. President Coleman: 734-764-6270 My name is [INSERT NAME] and I am (from [CITY, STATE]) / (a student at [INSERT SCHOOL]). Phone Script: I'm calling today to express my solidarity with the University of Michigan Sweatfree campaign. I do not support the use of sweatshops in the production of University of Michigan apparel. I urge you to take immediate action against sweatshops by negotiating with students to develop a solution. President Coleman must sign the Designated Suppliers Program TODAY. Be a leader and set an example against sweatshops now!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Adopt the DSP Today!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am extremely disappointed to hear about your consistent evasion of addressing the issue of workers' rights in the factories that make University of Michigan apparel. The apparel that bears your university name is made in sweatshops, and your university seems to have no interest in doing anything about it.

Despite overwhelming student support, the University of Michigan has refused to join the thirty major universities that have adopted the Designated Suppliers Program, which would ensure that university apparel is produced in factories in which workers truly have the right to form a union and earn a living wage. In addition, even though workers from the factories producing clothes for the University of Michigan have spoken on your campus about the conditions in their factories, you have proven unwilling to take the steps necessary to ensure that the rights of these workers are respected by the licensees with whom you do business. By refusing to make a real commitment to the rights of the workers producing U of M apparel, your university is failing to live up to its stated image as a first-tier university that has high regard for its students and citizens.

Do your job. Listen to students on campus. Adopt the DSP NOW!

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 03, 2007

Background Information

Despite supposed commitments by universities and brands, university apparel is still made in sweatshops. This will continue to be the case until brands are forced to make fundamental changes in the way they do business. Until brands truly commit to sourcing from factories in which the rights of workers are respected, a commitment that includes paying a slightly higher price for their goods, university clothes will continue to be made in sweatshops.

It is for this reason that students have demanded, and on thirty campuses won, the adoption of the Designated Suppliers Program (DSP). The DSP will require the brands producing university apparel to source from factories in which workers have the freedom to form a union and earn enough to support a family. In addition, it will require these brands to pay enough for their goods to make this possible. If you would like to find out more about the DSP, as well as how to get more involved, then please go to www.studentsagainstsweatshops.org