Stanford Students Emerge Victorious After Seven Day Fast; Major

Concessions on Labor Issues Made by University



Stanford Labor Action Coalition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 4, 2003



Palo Alto, CA: The six Stanford Students who had been fasting since

last Wednesday for fairer University labor practices declared victory

late last night after the administration made major concessions to

the student protesters. The students will break their fast in a

public ceremony today at 9 a.m. in White Plaza; at 9:30 a.m. there

will be a press conference detailing the agreement between the

University and the fasters.



Highlights from the agreement include:

- Formation of a University committee involving students and workers

to address labor issues, including living wages, subcontracting and

temporary workers. This is the first University committee to

include workers and students together in the decision-making process.

- Investigation into the case of Victoria Vega, a temporary worker

who was recently fired after she had asked for a permanent position

on campus.

- Support for affordable health care for all Stanford workers,

including the lowest-paid workers on Stanford land at Webb Ranch.



Pressure on the University to address temporary worker issues has

been building since the release of a new study on May 28th outlining

ongoing abuse of temp workers at Stanford.



Sophomore Anna Mumford, one of the fasters, commented on the

victory: "Not only have we fasters emerged personally stronger; but

our entire community has taken significant steps toward fulfilling

the mission of our university. The establishment of a process for a

Code of Conduct in which students, workers, faculty and staff are at

the table signals the movement toward a university that actively

appreciates its community members as equally valuable and important."



The University concessions came after a week of continual pressure on

the administration and growing support for the fasters' demands.

Over 2000 individuals signed the petition supporting the fast, 400

faxes and e-mails were sent to the President's office, and 300

individuals pledged to fast in solidarity for 24 hours. Dolores

Huerta, Jesse Jackson, AFL-CIO Vice President Linda Chavez,

Assemblywoman Elaine Alquist, musical group Ozomatli, Washington

State Congressperson Brian Baird, and Julia Butterfly Hill all

publicly endorsed the fast.



"We're excited by the impact that we've had on Stanford labor policy

but there's more work ahead for us. We're going to do what it takes

to ensure the implementation of the Code of Conduct," said junior

Sofia Lee, a member of Stanford Labor Action Coalition.



EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT:

WHAT: Fast-breaking Ceremony and Press Conference

WHEN: 9:00 am Ceremony

9:30 am Press Conference

WHERE: Stanford University, White Plaza



For more information:

Hai Binh Nguyen

626 290 5896