» Breaking News:
- New York Times article on our historic victory on front page of NYT website!
- See USAS’ press release
- We’re also keeping track of press coverage of the victory
Just over a year ago, Russell Athletic announced it would close Jerzees de Honduras in response to workers’ organizing efforts. During that year, USAS organized the largest boycott in the history of modern student activism. Now, as a direct result of our efforts, we have won an unprecedented victory — the company has agreed to meet worker demands to reopen the factory and re-hire all 1200 workers, who have been without jobs for 10 months or more. View the details of the agreement here.
Landmark Victory: A Precedent is Set
This is one of the most significant youth-led campaign victories in recent times and one of the most significant campaign victories of the global justice movement. No one has ever forced a multinational corporation to reopen a facility it shut down in the global race to the bottom. This victory has also proven that together, we can successfully fight back when those in power take advantage of the economic crisis to attack working people. We should take strength and inspiration from the example of the workers of Jerzees de Honduras. We can fight back — and WIN — against policies that benefit a privileged few and hurt our communities.
Thank You!
Your campus organizing, e-mails, faxes, phone calls, direct action and donations were essential to winning this campaign. We are standing on the shoulders of previous generations of activists. We built on top of USAS victories of the past twelve years, from the sit-ins in the late 1990s that resulted in supply chain transparency and university labor codes of conduct to the formation of the Worker Rights Consortium in 2000. As Russell and SITRAJERZEESH work to implement this agreement, please continue to support our efforts by making a tax-deductible donation to USAS. We need your continued support to sustain our movement.
The struggle continues! ¡La lucha sigue!
In solidarity,
United Students Against Sweatshops
Designated Suppliers Program
Report: College Presidents Get Raise Amidst Unprecedented Layoffs and Tuition Hikes
I love you guys. I am so glad to have been even a small part of this incredible outcome. Thanks everyone.
Fuck yeah!
Yeah USAS!
I met with these workers in 2008 and heard their stories of harassment. I am so thankful to have had the privilege to be a small part of this great victory. The fight continues!
Last Spring I participated in a series of events at the University of Oregon as part of the “Rein in Russell” Campaign. Sponsored by USAS, I listened to a woman who had worked in the Jerseez factory describe the situation there. This is a victory for the workers, first and foremost, but it is a victory for all souls who believe in building worker power across the globe. Thank you USAS for putting your resources into this campaign and good luck to our brothers and sisters in Honduras. Solidarity forever.
What a resourceful, great organization that looks out for the common good. God Bless!
Congrats. I put a note in my blog: http://tinyurl.com/yhlporp
This is so inspiring! I am so happy to have worked with USAS in the past, and I hope to see more victories in the future!
I am a Brazilian journalist and author of “Luta Internacional”, a blog about worker’s actions and struggles around the world. I read the news of the victory over Russell in LabourStart website, and translated into Portuguese two articles about your campaign (http://mundodostrabalhadores.blogspot.com/2009/11/estudantes-dos-eua-forcam-empresa.html), through which workers and students develops new ways to combat exploitation, united above the borders. Good Job!
Greetings of a internationalist worker
Dilair Aguiar
The correct link to the translations is http://mundodostrabalhadores.blogspot.com/2009/11/estudantes-dos-eua-forcam-empresa.html … Sorry!!!
To all USASers and prospective USASers:
Sign up to become an individual member at the link on the bottom of this website! I signed up, and now I’m an official member, making dues contributions of $15 per month. This is really important for all USASers to become dues paying members so we can build sustainability and ownership over our awesome/victorious/unstoppable student movement!