May 4, 2004 Student Union Assembly Student Union, 2nd Floor UC Santa…

May 4, 2004

Student Union Assembly
Student Union, 2nd Floor
UC Santa Cruz
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
(831) 459-4838
fax (831) 459-5187
suamail0304@yahoo.com

Re: Violation of UC's Human Rights Code of Conduct

Dear Chancellor Chemers,

         We are writing to draw to your attention to a serious violation of the University's Code of
Conduct for Trademark Licensees by one our corporate partners, the Coca-Cola Company. As
you know, in January of 2000, the University adopted the Code of Conduct to ensure that the
companies with whom we do business respect basic human and labor rights. We are proud that
this policy has proven to be an effective tool to eradicate sweatshop working conditions within
the global supply chains of our licensees.

        However, we are concerned that an instance of extraordinarily serious abuse has not been
addressed. A growing body of credible reports by reputable organizations has shed light on the
conditions of workers producing goods for the Coca-Cola company in Colombia. Within recent
years:

        ·   Eight workers and union activists have been assassinated by paramilitary groups,
            some of them attacked within their factory's gates. Numerous others have been
            kidnapped, tortured, or forced into hiding by paramilitary forces.
        ·   There is substantial evidence the groups perpetrating these crimes have worked in
            collusion with and have been financially supported by plant managers at Coca-Cola's
            contracted bottling facilities.
        ·   The most recent murder attempt occurred on August 22, 2003, when two men riding
            motorcycles fired shots at Juan Carlos Galvis, a worker leader at Coca-Cola's
            Barrancabermeja plant.
        ·   According to workers and expert observers, Coca-Cola has declined to take minimal
            precautions to prevent the violence from continuing.

         Needless to say, we find these abuses deeply troubling and we would like to find a way to
remedy the situation. Because Coca-Cola has entered major contracts with the University of
California that involve trademark licensing arrangements, the company is subject to the human
and labor rights standards of the University's Code of Conduct and the University's methods for
enforcing the policy. We would like to schedule a meeting as soon as possible to discuss the
situation and seek a solution that upholds the University's standing commitment to human rights
and social responsibility. We can be reached at (831) 459-4838. We looking forward to hearing
from you.

        Sincerely,