UMD Students Stage Sit-In Against Daycon

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

University of Maryland students staged a sit-in Friday to demand that the school dump Daycon, the local cleaning contractor that’s repeatedly been found guilty of violating federal labor laws. The 22 students – members of the UMD’s Drop Daycon coalition -- hung a banner reading "UMD Drop Daycon" in University President Wallace Loh's UMD College Park office during the 4-hour sit-in. They ended the sit-in only after Interim Vice President for Administrative Affairs Director Frank Brewer and other university officials pledged that they’ll make a decision by May 20 on whether or not the university will cut its ties with the company. Daycon fired dozens of striking workers – members of Teamsters 639 – last year during a strike and has refused to abide by a series of rulings since then by the National Labor Relations Board. "What course of action was left besides coming to this office?" Feminism Without Borders President Mary Yanik asked. "What gets through to make a change when we have already done everything right, and still we have nothing to show for it?” Teamsters 639’s Doug Webber said the local was “tremendously appreciative of the support from the students as well as our community allies, including Jobs with Justice.” - includes reporting by Maria Romas in the UMD Diamondback Online; photo by Jeremy Kim