STUDENTS DEMAND UALBANY SEVER THEIR CONTRACT WITH
THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
On Tuesday May 1, 2007 Students for Worker’s Rights held a press conference demanding the University sever their contract with the Coca-Cola Company after announcing that over 1,200 students supported a contract severance. They cited human rights violations, anti-union practices and environmentally unsound practices as reasons for the cessation of the contract. UAlbany’s contract with Coca-Cola formally ends in 2008.
“It is hypocritical for our University to be espousing ideals of liberty, equality and social justice while doing business with corporations that are guilty of unfair and unethical labor practices,” said Amanda Hickey, a member of Students for Workers’ Rights. “In light of the human rights violations being committed in Colombia, it is imperative that we act quickly to hold The Coca-Cola Company accountable for their unethical practices abroad.”
Since 1989, eight union leaders from Coca-Cola plants in Colombia have been murdered by paramilitaries. In El Salvador, child labor is used to harvest sugar and in the process children have suffered from smoke inhalation, burns and cuts from machetes, with no access to adequate healthcare. In India, courts have ruled that Coca Cola cease its practices of using water from depleted aquifers and selling soft drinks with high pesticide levels.
“Our UAlbany contract with the disgraced Coca-Cola Company tarnishes our reputation and our image,” said Sally Kim, member of Students for Workers’ Rights. “Coke has been widely condemned by many organizations and unions- a few being the United States Steelworkers’ Union, the Teamsters Union, the United University Professors and the International Labor Rights Fund. Since today is International Workers’ Day, we’re asking UAlbany to celebrate it with us and do the right thing by cutting the Coke contract.”
THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
On Tuesday May 1, 2007 Students for Worker’s Rights held a press conference demanding the University sever their contract with the Coca-Cola Company after announcing that over 1,200 students supported a contract severance. They cited human rights violations, anti-union practices and environmentally unsound practices as reasons for the cessation of the contract. UAlbany’s contract with Coca-Cola formally ends in 2008.
“It is hypocritical for our University to be espousing ideals of liberty, equality and social justice while doing business with corporations that are guilty of unfair and unethical labor practices,” said Amanda Hickey, a member of Students for Workers’ Rights. “In light of the human rights violations being committed in Colombia, it is imperative that we act quickly to hold The Coca-Cola Company accountable for their unethical practices abroad.”
Since 1989, eight union leaders from Coca-Cola plants in Colombia have been murdered by paramilitaries. In El Salvador, child labor is used to harvest sugar and in the process children have suffered from smoke inhalation, burns and cuts from machetes, with no access to adequate healthcare. In India, courts have ruled that Coca Cola cease its practices of using water from depleted aquifers and selling soft drinks with high pesticide levels.
“Our UAlbany contract with the disgraced Coca-Cola Company tarnishes our reputation and our image,” said Sally Kim, member of Students for Workers’ Rights. “Coke has been widely condemned by many organizations and unions- a few being the United States Steelworkers’ Union, the Teamsters Union, the United University Professors and the International Labor Rights Fund. Since today is International Workers’ Day, we’re asking UAlbany to celebrate it with us and do the right thing by cutting the Coke contract.”
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