Join Jessica Ponce Ramirez, former Sara Lee sweatshop worker and students from around Chicago to demand…

Hey Sara Lee!
Stop Using Sweatshops!
Join us in a delegation to James Crown, Sara Lee Board Member and President of the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago

Henry Crown & Company
222 N. La Salle

Tuesday April 27th 3:45 pm

After presenting our letter to James Crown we will head to sara Lee’s Corporate Headquarters!
(On madison Ave. between Clark & State)

Jessica Ponce Ramírez was born and raised in Frontera, in the northern state of Coahuila, México. Maquiladora manufacturing factories have replaced what was the heart of the Mexican steel industry in this part of Mexico.

Jessica and her mother both worked for many years in the Confecciones de Monclova (Sara Lee) maquiladora where workers made millions of known- brand t-shirts. Approximately 80 % of the workers in the factory are women. The pay is very low. The harsh working conditions result in many debilitating injuries and illnesses. Workers who speak out for fair treatment are fired or otherwise punished. Threats of violence for organizing are common.

Jessica and her mother began organizing co-workers five years ago with the assistance of Servicio, Desarrollo y Paz A.C. (SEDEPAC). Three years ago Jessica left the plant to begin to organize full time with SEDEPAC.

Jessica's family was recently accused in the press of "destabilizing the local maquiladora industry" by the Mayor of Frontera, because they are part of
SEDEPAC, which spearheads the maquiladora workers movement in Coahuila.

Like many of Sara Lee's employees in Mexico, Jessica is a single mother.

The following persons are members of the Board of Directors of Sara Lee and members of boards of U.S. universities:


University of Chicago
Board of Trustees:
James S. Crown. Mr. Crown is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the U of Chicago. He has been on Sara Lee’s Board of Directors since 1998. Mr. Crown owns 110,044 shares of Sara Lee stock & stock options (currently value = approximately $2.09 million).

Life member of the Board of Trustees:
Willie B. Davis. - owns 103,961 shares of Sara Lee stock & stock options (currently value = approximately $1.98 million).

Northwestern University
Board of Trustees:
Richard L. Thomas. - owns 555,473 shares of Sara Lee stock & stock options (currently value = approximately $10.55 million).

Advsory Board of the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management:
C. Steven McMillan.- Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO of Sara Lee. - owns 3,295,363 shares of Sara Lee stock & stock options (currently value = approximately $62.6 million).

Marquette University
Board of Trustees:
Willie D. Davis [see University of Chicago]

Occidental College
Willie D. Davis [see University of Chicago]

Howard University
Board of Trustees:
Vernon E. Jordan – owns 114,382 shares of Sara Lee stock & stock options (current value = approximately $2.33 million).

Hamline University
Board of Trustees:
Rozanne L. Ridgway - owns 83,187 shares of Sara Lee stock & stock options (current value = approximately $1.59 million).

Columbia University
School of Business Board of Overseers :
J.T. Battenberg III – owns 5,598 shares of Sara Lee stock (current value = approximately $107,482)