SOLE puts the heat on Mary Sue Coleman to accept DSP

Almost a month into the fall semester here at the University of Michigan, SOLE has stepped up its sweat-free campaign. We want to make President Mary Sue Coleman know that we will not let her drag her heels on adopting the Designated Supplier Program (DSP). The DSP, which has already been accepted by over 20 predominant universities including the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Georgetown, Columbia and the entire University of California school system , ensures that all university apparel is not made in sweatshops. This means, as the United Students Against Sweatshops has defined it, that "University logo apparel goods will be sourced from a set of designated supplier factories that have been determined by universities to have affirmatively demonstrated full and consistent respect for the rights of their employees" including that of the right to form a union, receive a living wage, and decent factory work conditions.

As of now though, President Mary Sue Coleman has continued to put off SOLE and the DSP but now we are forcing the issue. For the past two weeks we have delivered, on a daily basis, a letter to President Coleman along with a copy of the DSP. The letter says the following:

President Coleman,

We are deeply disappointed by the lack of action on the part of the President's Office and the LS-HR Committee. Back in April the LS-HR Committee pledged to explore alternatives to the DSP as well as other methods by which to improve enforcement of the Code of Conduct. Aside from LS-HR Chair Larry Root's occasional attendance of DSP Working Group meetings, nothing has been done.

The WRC is releasing a revised version of the DSP, which has been approved by the DSP Working Group available sometime next week. You have the power to improve the working conditions of thousands of workers who produce University of Michigan apparel. Based on your commendable support of the Expect Respect Campaign, SOLE expects you to respect the rights of workers worldwide. We strongly encourage you to take action on this upcoming revision as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

SOLE
Sole.maintain@umich.edu

Along with this daily delivery, we will be escalating our direct action against the administration until they accept the DSP. This Friday, September 29th @ 12:30 pm, we are having a sweatfree pep rally in President Coleman's office. SOLE members will be invading the administration building with maize and blue clothing, a boom box blasting "Hail to the Victors", and another letter and copy of the DSP. This is only the tip of the iceberg if the administration continues to ignore our demands. In addition, we will be rallying support from the general student body through letter-writing efforts from other campus groups and individuals. President Mary Sue Coleman won't be able to get away with skirting the issue.