Solidarity with Honduran workers
By
SEATTLE--Some 25 students from the Student Labor Action Project (SLAP) rallied on February 4 to push the University of Washington (UW) to cut its contract with clothing producer Russell Corp.
On January 30, Russell shut down its only unionized factory in Honduras, Jerzees de Honduras, laying off 1,800 workers. Russell management cited the world economic crisis as its excuse, but it only shut down the unionized factory, leaving its nonunion sweatshops up and running.
Since the shutdown, the union workers have been blacklisted in the garment industry, and union leaders have received death threats.
SLAP is demanding that the UW end its contract with Russell to pressure the company to re-open the factory under union contract. After rallying and holding a mock funeral for the union contract, they marched into UW President Mark Emmert's office to present him with their demands.
Emmert wasn't there, so protesters left reminders of the visit--a coffin, signs, balloons and a destroyed replica of a contract with Russell.
This action is part of many across the U.S. demanding that universities end their contracts with Russell. Some universities already have, and SLAP promises to keep the pressure on UW until it does as well.
