From: Marakah Mancini (marakah@hotmail.com)
Date: Thu Nov 08 2001 - 12:59:07 EST
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO READ THIS EMAIL?!?
"We want to ask something of the students at universities that
buy our products. We want their help. Whatever they can do, we need their
help. For, you see, our company doesn't look after the welfare of its
workers. Help us so that the company will care about us more, will not
oppress and exploit us anymore, will not feel like they can do whatever they
want to workers in Indonesia."
-Worker at a factory in Indonesia that produces for the Gap.
"We never expected our cries for justice to be heard
internationally by people like you, who are worried about the needs of the
people who make the clothing you wear proudly. Thank you for all the
mobilization...but the struggle is not over yet, there are still millions of
workers who are still oppressed by these kinds of protection unions or by
their own governments. Regardless of the nationality, race or creed, if we
are united with one goal, with one heart, as students, organizations and
workers we can achieve respect for the rights of all workers. Please do not
forget us the workers, because we do not forget you."
-Josefina Hernandez and workers from SITEMEX, the new
independent union at Mexmode (formerly Kukdong).
The original focus of the United Students Against
Sweatshops (USAS) was revealing and improving the conditions of workers who
make collegiate apparel around the world. Recently this large U.S. student
organization has expanded its focus to include domestic sweatshops and other
exploitative situations, such as prisons, that were not included in the
original conception of "sweatshop". While this is a commendable and
important expansion for the organization, it is important that the
international component of our work not be lost, as the majority of
collegiate apparel production continues to reside beyond the borders of the
United States. The International Solidarity Committee (ISC) is a working
group of USAS dedicated to communicating and acting in solidarity with
workers, by establishing and maintaining communication with workers and
allies around the world. The ISC actively seeks, receives, and distributes
requests for international solidarity, often suggesting tactics and actions
to USAS. The ISC works, in general, to inform USAS and direct its course
regarding international solidarity. Traditionally the ISC, like USAS,
places primary importance on the needs and well-being of workers in its
decisions and tactics. The ISC has been a part of a number of worker
victories including the recent establishment of SITEMEX at the factory
formerly known as Kukdong in Mexico. But the real potential of the ISC, let
alone USAS, has yet to be fulfilled, and many requests for solidarity go
unanswered or unheard. We implore and encourage you or someone from your
chapter/organization to join this committee and the discussions surrounding
international solidarity and USAS.
Below is an application for various tasks and roles needed in the
ISC. These positions are _not_ highly competitive. We simply require that
you be a compassionate person, dedicated to working for labor rights, and
willing to learn new skills if need be. People with all skill levels and
previous experience are encouraged to apply. If you need college credit we
can assist you in setting up college credit for your hours worked as an ISC
bottom-liner. If you or someone you know is interested in any of these
items, please email Marakah Mancini (marakah@hotmail.com) or call Bhumika
Muchhala, USAS's International staffer, at 202-No-Sweat. Or just join the
listserve (USASInternationalSolidarity@yahoogroups.com: send a blank message
to USASInternationalSolidarity-subscribe@yahoogroups.com) for information
and discussion.
Ideally, there should be at least one ISC point person at
every USAS chapter - let's make it happen!
APPLICATION:
Note: This is an application for an unpaid position, so these
questions are meant to serve simply as your introduction to the ISC and a
way for you to articulate your desires, abilities, and commitments. While
preferred, you do not need to apply for an entire role. Completed
applications should be sent to marakah@hotmail.com by Friday, November 9.
Name:
School / Year of graduation:
Languages Spoken:
Some VERY brief questions:
1. How much time do you feel you have to put into IS committee work?
2. Briefly describe your international experience. Have you travelled
outside of your home country? Have you worked or interacted with people who
are of a different nationality and/or ethnicity than your own?
3. Why do you feel it is important that USAS does international solidarity
work? Or put another way, why does the IS Committee need to exist?
4. What are some criteria that you believe USAS should consider before
committing to a struggle abroad?
5. What are your visions and/or goals for the IS committee in the next year?
6. Which of the following roles are you interested in filling?
International Solidarity Committee Roles and Responsibilities
CARI COORDINATOR(S) - Each year the ISC oversees the planning of the
Collegiate Apparel Research Initiative (CARI), as well as the selection of
its participants. Students have been sent to Indonesia, Honduras, and Mexico
to research conditions and network with workers and allies. This position
should be filled by multiple people, ideally at least one each from the
Mexico, Honduras, and Indonesia teams.
Coordinate the early selection of CARI sites and participants and facilitate
discussion and planning among CARI participants past and present.
Create and help fundraise realistic budget specific for CARI (along with
finances coordinator(s))
Be knowledgeable of previous CARI excursions and based on these and
organizing climate on campuses determine research goals for each site.
Remain seized of process throughout the year
DELEGATIONS/TOURS/EXCHANGES
coordinate with campuses for tours of international speakers
plan delegation sites and choose participants
follow up on delegation and tours
either initiate first exchange program or maintain development efforts for
such a program
help with budget and fundraising for delegations, tours, exchanges
FINANCES
You don't need to have a lot of experience with USAS to apply for this
position. It helps if you have good writing skills and/or previous grant
writing experience.
help fundraise (in coordination with CC fundraising committee)
write and revise ISC budget in coordination with program bottom-liners
ensure that USAS resources are optimally used in ISC context
WEB
People with web design/editing skills -please apply! We can help you get
college credit for this positon!
create and upkeep a web-site with information for USAS and our international
allies
TRANSLATION
coordinate team of translators and maintain a current library of USAS (and
WRC documents) in several languages (at least in Spanish and Indonesian)
provide limited translation services for our allies abroad…eventually expand
this piece.
INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS
This is a very big job, which would ideally overlap significantly with many
of the other positions, and would ideally involve several people.
remain aware of what our international allies are doing
help keep our international allies aware of what we are doing
coordinate with CARI and delegation bottom-liners
help coordinate information between international allies in different
producing regions
research/materials
keep track of CARI research, collaborate in establishing CARI research
goals, and take the lead on the dissemination of research, primarily through
the creation and dispersal of organizing materials.
follow US-based academic and NGO research and help use these to inform USAS
activism
try to keep an updated list of campus codes of conducts and which companies
make which school's apparel and if possible link these to factories.
INTERNAL COMMUNICATION / INFORMATION DISSEMINATION / USAS LIASON (campus
point people, know how info dissemination is going)
help each campus USAS group select an IS coordinating person
help disseminate ISC and CARI collected info to each campus in useful ways.
get feedback from campuses to how info can be most usefully presented
coordinate with international contacts to connect campuses to allies abroad.
SPECIFIC STRUGGLES AND CAMPAIGNS COORDINATION
be aware and in leadership position on US-based efforts around campaigns
such as Kukdong.
Coordinate with rest of ISC to make sure ISC is responsive to emergencies
Coordinate with campuses to create US-consumer pressure on specific
companies to help workers organize.
_________________________________________________________________
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