Big Week for the Student-Labor Movement

We first want to congratulate our friends at United Students Against Sweatshops for their victory against Russell Athletics! Russell Athletics which closed their factory in Honduras after workers there tried to for a union nearly one year ago.  Students at 96 universities persuaded their schools to suspend or sever ties with Russell Athletic, a major supplier of college logo t-shirts and sweatshirts.  This week, Russell announced that they plan to re-open the factory and re-hire all 1200 workers. More details about the campaign here.

In California, the struggle continues. Across California students and workers have come together to fight against fee increases and the privatization of education. Thousands of students and workers met at the UCLA campus to demand the Regents from the UC system to stop the proposed increases and support funding of public higher education. Several buildings were occupied by students while others marched around the area where regents where meeting.  You can read more details about the students’ activities here.  Despite their best efforts, the regents voted to increase tuition by 32%.  Students have been arrested, peppered sprayed and beaten, their fighting sprit will continue even if the regents vote for the fee hike, students will now set eyes on their next target; their legislators.

This show of solidarity and need of organizing to fight against agents threatening  our ways of living shows the country that students and workers are willing to stand  up to preserve and fight for what is right and should be a right such as education, healthcare,  and right to organize.  

Are you fighting budget cuts at your school?  Check out our Guide to Fighting Budget Cuts!