Human rights activist joins crusade for labor safety

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Photo Courtesy of the Free Harry Wu Web site Harry Wu is greeted by his wife Ching-Lee Wu upon his arrival in the United States after he was expelled from China in 1995. Wu and nine nationwide Students Against Sweatshops leaders sent a letter Monday to UA President Peter Likins, promoting additions to strengthen a multi-university labor conduct code.

A letter from Wu and nine nationwide SAS leaders targeting the upcoming code was sent Monday to UA President Peter Likins and Mike Low, head of the Collegiate Licensing Company and a UA licensing department official.

The company, comprised of 14 American universities including the UA, is in the process of writing a conduct code that may be adopted by universities nationwide.

Arne Ekstrom, president of UA's SAS chapter, said the group looked at a copy of the new Collegiate Licensing Company's plan and "we don't think it's good at all."

Wu's letter states that Collegiate Licensing Company's plan doesn't go far enough.

"I agree with the students and am concerned that the adopted code will have several flaws," he wrote.

Activists from Students Against Sweatshops have attacked the UA for signing a $7 million athletic apparel contract with Nike, alleging that the corporation supports poor labor practices. The contract includes a clause for an "independent monitor" of Nike's factories, mutually agreed upon by the corporation and the university.

Wu calls for safe working conditions, an end to forced and child labor, and independent monitoring "by university-selected organizations."

Wu, executive director of the Laogai Research Foundation, served 19 years in Chinese labor prisons until escaping to the United States in 1985. He returned to China four times to investigate the country's abusive labor camps.

On his fifth trip in 1995, Wu was arrested and sentenced to a 15-year prison term, but was expelled from China and returned to the United States that year.

Likins was traveling and unavailable for comment yesterday, but Sharon Kha, speaking for the university, said Wu's experiences and needs may reach beyond the UA's realm.

"It appears to be that the writer of the letter has had some really intense experiences in the labor camp system," said Kha, associate vice president for communications. "He has some issues that he is looking for help with."

Wu stated that universities could play an important role in calling for public disclosure of the addresses of the overseas factories where apparel is manufactured.

"Universities would aid the work of my foundation and thousands of other human rights groups if they would simply release publicly the factory addresses that are covered by your labor code," he wrote.

Ekstrom said yesterday that the code does not include the mandate for addresses.

"They (Nike) absolutely won't give them to us," he said. "The only way to check their work is to know where the factories are. The addresses will make it much easier to monitor labor practices overseas."

Ekstrom said the agreement also lacks another of Wu's requests - provisions that demand "living wages" for overseas factory workers.

"I understand that universities are planning to enforce only legal minimum wages," Wu wrote. "However, in many developing countries, legal minimum wages do not allow workers to adequately feed or clothe their children."

Ekstrom agreed, saying while the activists are not calling for the U.S. minimum wage of $5.15 per hour, they have worked out a formula that allows for livable pay despite foreign governments' policies.

"Often, Nike's tied in and works closely with the government," Ekstrom said. "Frequently, the government overlooks these laws."

Ekstrom also said the mandate would take into consideration needs for rent money and proper nutrition for employees.

Wu ended his letter asking Likins and Collegiate Licensing Company to incorporate all the requests in the letter.

"If the task force creates a code that falls short of these standards, we encourage you not to accept it," he wrote. "Americans do not want to buy clothing made from the blood and tears of exploited workers."

Kha said Likins will deal with the letter when he returns to Tucson.

David J. Cieslak can be reached via e-mail at David.J.Cieslak@wildcat.arizona.edu.