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[This is a partisan report which does not mention whether there was any
involvement by the relevant academic association. -- Dion
Giles]<br><br>
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St. Louis, MO - A groundbreaking agreement improving workers' rights at
Washington University was finalized Friday, April 22 ending the 19-day
sit-in by members of Washington University's Student Worker Alliance
(SWA). The agreement includes: <br>
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* Commitment of at least $1 million in the next two years towards salary
and benefits for lower-paid contract employees, a significant step
towards a Living Wage for those workers, <br>
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* Membership for the University in the Workers Rights Consortium, which
ensures factories producing clothing and other goods bearing college and
university names respect the basic rights of workers, <br>
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* The formation of a joint student-University committee with SWA
representation to improve University policies so they "better meet
the needs of lower-paid service workers" which includes protecting
freedom of association and working towards living wages and benefits for
all workers who are directly and indirectly employed by the university.
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"I'm so thrilled with what these students have won!" said
janitor Chrystal Wells, employed by Aramark. "I've never worked at
a place where the people I perform services for take up for you like
this." <br><br>
Full story at
<a href="http://www.jwj.org/updates/media/2005/04-22-05SlapWashUSitIn.htm">http://www.jwj.org/updates/media/2005/04-22-05SlapWashUSitIn.htm</a><br><br>
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