Campaigns
Kukdong
In January of 2001, approximately 600 workers were fired from the Kukdong plant in Atlixco, Mexico for attempting to start an independent union. The plant produces Nike sweatshirts for a number of USAS schools, and USASistas have been pushing administrations and Nike to get the workers and organizers of Kukdong back to work. USAS has supported the efforts of the independent union to obtain recognition, and sent a delegation of approximately 20 students to Kukdong in March 2001.
New Era
Upon hearing allegations of workers' rights violations in the New Era factory of New York, a delegation of 6 USASistas traveled to Buffalo in March to investigate. The factory produces caps for several university, and has a history of anti-union practices, The report produced by these students concludes that New Era is a sweatshop, one that "one that has abused its workers, left them with irreparable injuries, refused to justly compensate them, threatened their union and their livelihood, and in the end, is executing its threat."
Sweat-free Campus Campaign
Students have been pressing their administrations for campuses free of labor violations for several years, beginning with drives for effective Codes of Conduct, leading to association with the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC), and developing into efforts to support workers' drives for justice and enforcement of labor laws and codes.