Group protests LSU policy on sweatshop labor
More than a dozen messages from students concerned about the University’s sweatshop labor policy sit waiting for Chancellor Mark Emmert to return in his office.
“The only way to get the administration to respond to us is to go to them directly,” said Chelsey Calloway, a political science senior.
Calloway is part of the group of students who gathered in Free Speech Alley Wednesday, encouraging other students to call Emmert about the University’s contract with New Era Cap Company. New Era is one of 485 companies licensed to use an LSU trademark on its products.
Calloway explained he and several others fighting for workers’ rights in the factories producing LSU apparel discovered New Era workers now are striking because of dangerous working conditions and proposed wage cuts.
“This is something that is well documented,” Calloway said. “But apparently the administration is still throwing their hands up.”
The group wants Emmert to suspend the University’s contract with the company until it begins to respect the worker’s rights, said Stacy Sauce, a mass communication sophomore.
Emmert replied in a letter that the University had no place in the matter, Sauce said.
“The students felt very strongly that LSU should take an active role and use the University’s license to force New Era to enter a relationship with its labor union,” said Ralph Gossard, associate vice chancellor for Administrative Services.
The University feels complex issues such as the New Era dispute should be handled by the proper authorities such as the National Labor Relations Board, a board specializing in labor union and company relations, Gossard said.
However, several students disagree with the University’s position.
“Last semester we joined the Workers Rights Consortium to protect worker’s rights, and the abuses that have been documented clearly violate all of WRC’s labor codes,” Sauce said. “We’ve agreed to these codes as our standards, and now we are in a position to suspend our contract.”
Many University students and administrators also supported a visit from Bangladesh sweatshop workers last semester. One of the women who came to the University to speak about her working conditions worked for New Era.
“The views of LSU should reflect the views of the students, and if they do not coincide, the University should consider other opinions,” said Ryan Burychka, a computer engineering senior who stopped to call Emmert.
Calloway said students should contact the chancellor with a tactic similar to one used in convincing lawmakers to take a stand on issues.
“When he gets back and sees 40 people have left him a message, and they are all students, he has to listen,” Calloway said. “The only way to get him to do anything is to let him know how we feel.”
Jill Browning, assistant to the chancellor, confirmed the chancellor had received an increased number of calls Wednesday from students.
However, because Emmert is out of state for business reasons, his secretaries wrote names, numbers and comments from all callers and will refer them when he returns, Browning said.
Tracy Simoneaux