Students demanding better working conditions for manufacturers of university-related clothing ended their eight-day sit-in yesterday after school officials agreed to meet some of their demands.
Penn agreed to withdraw from the Fair Labor Association, a group that consists of apparel manufacturers and retailers that monitor working conditions, which the students claim is an inadequate monitor of labor conditions. In her letter to the Fair Labor Association, Penn President Judith Rodin said the school was withdrawing to “take a fresh look at the monitoring organization or organizations to which Penn should belong.”
The school did refuse to join the Workers’ Rights Consortium, which was developed by students and consists of workers and human rights groups who monitor working conditions. Despite this refusal, the protesting students declared victory.
