19 arrested in 'sweatshop' protest at UT

[TexasTowelie]

University of Texas police officers on Wednesday arrested 19 people, most of them students, who were protesting what they called sweatshop conditions in the production of UT apparel.

Protesters occupied the foyer outside the office of UT President Bill Powers about 12:30 p.m. Their refusal to leave at 5 p.m., when the fourth floor of the Main Building closed, triggered the arrests, said Soncia Reagins-Lilly, dean of students.

<<snip>>

The students want UT to affiliate with the Worker Rights Consortium, which monitors factories. A total of 181 universities have done so, according to the consortium's website.

UT is a member of the Fair Labor Association, which monitors working conditions at plants worldwide, said Gary Susswein, a UT spokesman. Susswein said the association's findings of worker mistreatment in China led to Apple Inc.'s recent decision to improve conditions at plants that make Apple products and parts.

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/19-arrested-in-sweatshop-protest-at-ut-2313560.html

[font color=green]I'm glad that I'm going to Austin tomorrow so that I can stock up on Longhorn gear before the prices rise.[/font]

[sonias]

1. Makes me proud

Some students still care about the conditions people are forced to work in to make stuff for the U.S.

Good on them!