The Progressive Student Network

Mission Statement of the Progressive Student Network (PSN):

The Progressive Student Network (PSN) is an organization of the Center for Peace and Justice Education, working on the issues of trade, labor, and economic justice. PSN is a community of students, each with his or her own area of specialty or knowledge, but all with the common overall goal of social and economic justice. PSN wrks to ensure the presence of labor rights, both on campus and abroad, through advocacy and direct action with initiatives that are relevant, sustainable, and indispensable to the promotion of social and economic justice.

Our Current Project is the successful implementation of the Designated Supplier Program at Villanova. The objective of this program is to enable factory workers abroad that are contracted out by companies a few basic rights they currently are unable to obtain alone. The major pillars of the Designated Supplier Program are:

• A Voice on the Job, more specifically: the right to collectively bargain
• A Living Wage: while the wage of a sweatshop factory worker varies greatly by country, a living wage for most workers (based on a basket of essential goods) would be at least a two-fold increase in wage.
• Job Security: Right now the major licensing companies that dominate the apparel industry reward factories with the lowest production costs. This translates to the lowest wage, the longest hours, and the least amount of worker protection rights. The DSP demands that licenising companies stay for a minimum of three years, as long as production mmets labor and production standards.

The DSP seeks to achieve this for University and College apparel by a gradual increase in production of collegiate apparel from 25% in the first year, 50% in the second year, and 75% in the third year.
To view a copy of the Designated Supplier Program please go to: http://workersrights.org/dsp/Designated%20Suppliers%20Program%20-%20Revised.pdf

The Progressive Student Network meets every Tuesday at 5pm in the Center for Peace and Justice Education. Newcomers welcome!

In addition to individuals interested, if you are already a member of a student group on campus we strongly encourage you to join our newly founded VU Sweat-Free Coalition. To become a member please send a (short) formal letter announcing your groups support of the coalition and its goals to achieve a sweat-free Villanova campus.

For more information please contact: Christina.Bernardo@villanova.edu