Fourteen students slept outside the president’s office at York University Thursday to demand a no-sweatshop policy.
Following an earlier rally that day, 60 students planted themselves outside the office of Mamdouh Shoukri at 2 p.m. By 9 p.m., 14 students remained and spent the night.
“We are trying to get York to sign a no-sweatshop policy,” said Terrance Luscombe of the York Sustainable Purchasing Coalition, one of the students who stayed overnight.
A no-sweatshop policy would guarantee the North York university would not use companies known to use sweatshop labour to produce merchandise.
Luscombe said he doesn’t know if the university has actually been associated with sweatshop labour companies but an agreement would cement York’s stance on the issue.
“York University has been stalling in negotiations over a no-sweatshop policy for three years,” he said.
He said the coalition recently submitted a draft policy for York to use to monitor the manufacturers of its apparel to ensure workers are not producing York goods in sweatshop conditions. The policy was rejected by York’s legal counsel and an alternative was drafted, which was unacceptable to the coalition.
“The alternative assured very little outside following the laws of the country, which doesn’t say much,” Luscombe said. “Because of the delays we have faced with this issue, we decided to hold a rally.”
Luscombe said a petition containing 1,100 names of students, staff and faculty was brought to Shoukri’s office but the president refused to face the students in this manner.
“We were told we could have a meeting with him behind closed doors at a later date but we feel there is no reason why only three of us should be allowed to meet,” he said.
Luscombe acknowledged protestors at an anti-racism rally held by York students in January didn’t allow for Shoukri to speak after he showed up but said this situation would be different.
“One person (from the coalition) would speak and it wouldn’t be a matter of argument,” he said. “We want a statement.”
Luscombe said at least 16 Canadian universities have no-sweatshop purchasing policies and there is no reason why York shouldn’t.
Luscombe said students are planning to spend Friday night at the president’s office and will have to see what the next course of action is come Saturday.
York University spokesperson Alex Bilyk confirmed Shoukri has offered to meet with two or three students Monday, adding it’s been a peaceful and respectful protest.
“The reality is this is something that has been worked on together for three years with the students and we are committed to finishing it up in April of this year,” he said. “We will work on the principles of what the code of conduct is relating to the Fair Labour Association.”