Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2000 21:35:51 -0500
From: Chuck0 <chuck-AT-tao.ca>
Subject: Police Break Up Sweatshop Protest in Madison


Police Break Up Sweatshop Protest

http://news.excite.com/news/ap/000220/15/biz-sweatshop-protest

Updated 3:51 PM ET February 20, 2000

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Fifty-four anti-sweatshop protesters were arrested
Sunday at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, ending a four-day sit-in
in the chancellor's office. 

The protesters, who had been occupying Chancellor David Ward's office
since Wednesday, had listed seven demands, most designed to give
manufacturers less sway in factory monitoring accords that universities
agreed to a year ago. 

Ward agreed Friday to one of the demands - entering the Workers Rights
Consortium, a factory monitoring group that includes workers and human
rights organizations. The consortium was developed by students. 

Roger Howard, the associate vice chancellor for student services at
Wisconsin, said last week that the WRC is still in the developmental
stage and hasn't yet had a founding convention. 

Sarah Spohn, a member of the anti-sweatshop group, said Ward's support
of the workers consortium was lukewarm and criticized the chancellor for
not negotiating directly with students. 

"The issue had been resolved," university spokeswoman Amy Toburen said
following the 54 arrests. "It had become clear the issue was no longer
sweatshops." 

Collegiate licensing is a $2.5 billion business nationwide. Some
merchandise has been found to be produced under sweatshop conditions in
the United States and abroad. 

The University of Michigan and Indiana University also joined the
factory monitoring group on Friday. 



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