Students at Binghamton University Challenge Pactiv to End Sweatshop Abuses and Stop Mandatory Overtime

Check out the local news coverage, below:

Student run organization boycotts large manufacturers and distributors of food packaging

Photo Credit: Fox 40 WICZ TV

Vestal, NY (WBNG Binghamton) A student run organization at Binghamton University is boycotting Pactiv and Reynolds, one of the companies the university contracts with for dining services.

SOAR, or Students Organizing against Reynolds, is a student run organization at Binghamton University that’s fighting with the company.

Pactiv and Reynolds workers traveled up from New Jersey to speak with SOAR about the company’s working conditions in its factories.

SOAR wants to see the company and Reynolds meet the workers’ demands, which includes:

-The right to take bathroom breaks
-The right to sick days and parental leave
-The right to speak out and organize without retaliation
-Reinstatement with back pay for those laid-off or fired
-The right to a 40-hour work week and no mandatory overtime

“In the factories the conditions were sometimes over 100 degrees, and I probably won’t have to deal with that, however, something like mandatory overtime, that is something I can identify with, SOAR member,” Mary Lister, said.

Pactiv and Reynolds representatives met with SOAR on Friday at the university o hear their arguments.

After two hours, the company denied that the employees are mistreated and says SOAR doesn’t have enough evidence to back up its argument.

Pactiv and Reynolds denied to comment on the protest.

“I think that underestimated what students are community groups can do to their public image and I feel very strongly that there is a good likely-hood there will be a local boycott that will succeed,” Citizen Action Community Organizer, Isaac Silberman-Gorn, said.

SOAR will continue to work with Pactiv and Reynolds until the worker’s demands are met.

The organization plans to go around to other SUNY schools who use the company and get the word out.

See the video at http://www.wbng.com/news/local/Student-run-organization-boycotts–376786441.html

BU Students Call on Reynolds Group Holdings To Stop Alleged Sweatshop Practices

By Faith Jessie

VESTAL, NY – A group of Binghamton University students are calling on the school to boycott Pactiv products until the company creates a better work environment for the employees.

Members from Students Organizing Against Reynolds (SOAR) protested outside of Friday’s meeting between BU administration, students, and Pactiv representatives demanding that the subsidiary of Reynolds Group Holdings immediately stop what they are calling sweatshop practices in their New Jersey factories.

“Monitoring groups have recognized that Pactiv does have questionable labor practices. So we’ve gotten the administration to admit that so far and we will continue to pressure the administration and hopefully we will be able to change suppliers,” said David Zeiger, SOAR member.
Students are calling on the school to stop using the company’s products until they meet the following five working conditions.

1. The right to take bathroom breaks
2. The right to sick days and parental leave
3. The right to speak out and organize without retaliation
4. Reinstatement with back pay for those laid-off or fired
5. The right to a 40-hour work week and no mandatory overtime.

Reynolds representatives would not allow media into Friday’s meeting.

http://www.wicz.com/story/31796904/bu-students-call-on-reynolds-group-holdings-to-stop-alleged-sweatshop-practices