Students at Columbia University are taking the protests to save 43 art handlers jobs at Sotheby’s straight to former Columbia President Michael Sovern.
According to the Columbia Spectator:
Columbia students protested outside Columbia Law School on Monday in opposition to former Columbia President Michael Sovern’s involvement in a lockout at the Sotheby’s auction house.
Sovern, who is currently a Law School professor, is the chairman of Sotheby’s, which replaced 42 art handlers after contract negotiations failed. Protestors said that Sotheby’s was attempting to cut those workers’ hours and pensions and that the unionized handlers have been replaced with non-unionized temp workers.
It has been nearly four months since Sotheby’s locked out its art handlers, and despite rally’s, protests, and petitions to bring back its workers, Sotheby’s has spent more time beefing up security than sitting at the negotating table.
You can read more about the courageous students’ action here.