The Michigan Daily-Thursday, May 22, 1980-Page 3
';. . .,x 'a"i.: :',f', ; y k fL oca l S c .en ' .
FIRST OF 3 INSTATE HOUSE PACKAGE
Divestment bill ratified
By ELAINE RIDEOUT
r and MITCH STUART
University and state-wide divestment
advocates saw years of hard work pay
off Tuesday as the Michigan House
ratified the first of a series of three bills
that would require the withdrawal of
public funds from firms doing business
in South Africa.
But those who spearheaded the drive
for divestiture say the major policy
changes are still to come - and a
strenuous effort lies on the road ahead.
THE HOUSE Tuesday narrowly ap-
proved a bill barring the deposit of sur-
plus state funds in banks which do
business with SouthAfrica. The gover-
nment of South Africa maintains a
Guidebook
foul-up
upsets
firms
By MITCH STUART
Despite a recent letter of apology and
explanation, the Michigan Student
Assembly has apparently not convinced
advertisers in a 1979 campus guidebook
that their promotion dollars were well
spent.
MSA entered into a business deal last
year with an independent businessman
and agreed to distribute the "Getting
'Round Town '79" booklets, but as of
May 1, only 8,200 of the 22,000 pam-
phlets had been circulated.
IN A LETTER sent to advertisers,
MSA President Marc Breakstone and
Communications Coordinator Scott.
Prosterman wrote, "We want you to
know that it is our intention to finish
distribution of the booklet, with most of
the remaining books going to summer
orientation and to fall orientation at the
very start of that trimester. Most of you
should thereby receive the full adver-
tising value of your ads."
But John Sappington, University
Cellar assistant manager, said, "We're
so far beyond the point where (the ads)
have any value, whatever they do with
them now doesn't make any differen-
ce."
BREAKSTONE SAID yesterday the
Assembly may offer 1979 advertisers
free promotion in future Gettin 'Round
Town editions. "I think that's fair
enough," he said.
The damage to MSA, however, has
already been done, according to some
advertisers. "I think they've done a
real disservice to the Assembly," said
Tom Musser, Ulrich's advertising
manager.
Follett's manager Brian Kest said, "I
have made a decision, this year at
least, not to go into (the new booklet)."
Kest said if the mixup had occurred
in a non-student business setting, ad-
vertisers would probably insist on §ome-
remedial action by MSA.
system of legalized racism, or apar-
theid.
Divestiture would be phased in until
its completion in 1982.
Washtenaw County Coalition Against
Apartheid spokeswoman Heidi Got-
tfried called the bill's passage "a very
good start. It's an indication that people
are taking the issue seriously."
BUT THE recently-passed legislation
is the one bill of the package of three
that will have the least impact on the
University's investments.
Vice-President and Chief Financial
Officer James Brinkerhoff said even if
the Senate signs House Bill 5446-into
law, it will probably have no effect on
University investments. The executive
officers will simply continue to monitor
the investments as prescribed by the
Regents, Brinkerhoff said.
The second measure in the legislative
package, House Bill 4838, would require
public universities to sell all holdings in
companies that operate in South Africa.
"WE'LL BE voting on the University
trust fund (bill) fairly soon, maybe
within the next two weeks," State Rep.
Perry Bullard (D-Ann Arbor) said.
Bullard is one of the bills' co-sponsors.
The final measure would restrict
South African investments by public
employee pension funds (House Bill
4831). Bullard said the House is expec-
ted to vote on the final bill by mid-June.
The state of Michigan is not the only
institution attempting to bring
monetary pressure to bear on the South
African government. The National
Council of Churches recently withdrew
$63 million in South African investmen-
ts, and Massachusetts and Nebraska
have passed legislation similar to that
pending in Michigan. Michigan State
University's divestment last year net-
ted significant profits.
JOEL SAMOFF, University lecturer
in the Center for Afro-American and
African Studies, said the most crucial
recent development on the divestment
front was the election and installation
of a popular government in Zimbabwe.
Samoff added he has heard people
See MICHIGAN, Page 10
MIDWEST NATURAL FOOD Distributors employees yesterday protest a new company rule prohibiting employee visits
to the parking lot. The workers walked off their jobs.
ealth food workers walk
off jobs protestig rules
BY NICK KATSARELAS
Approximately 25 employees of a
local health food warehouse walked off
their jobs yesterday to protest a new
management rule prohibiting employee
visits to a parking lot during morning
and afternoon breaks.
The employees who shunned work
yesterday at Midwest Natural Food
Distributors, 170 Apprill Dr., walked out
in sympathy for 14 workers suspended
indefinitely Tuesday morning for
defying company orders not to go to the
parking lot. The company employs ap-
proximately 70 persons.
THE WORKERS are members of
Teamsters Local 337..
Early yesterday evening, the em-
. ployees' business agent-was meetirg,
with company president Steve Gior-
dana and Vice-President David Rock to to discuss the changes with the em-
attempt to resolve the dispute. ployees before implementation.
Rock said the rule was imposed IN ADDITION to the new rule con-
because of a "considerable problem cerning the parking lot, employees said
with internal stealing." they were upset with other recent
"We have caught people, and we have changes in their work rules.
reason to believe it was going to con- "As the company gets bigger and
tinue," Rock said. bigger," one worker complained, "it
becomes less responsive to the
ROCK SAID that employees were workers."
smoking marijuana on their breaks, Many of the drivers of trucks sent to
and "would dome back to work stoned." pick up or deliver merchandise refused
"We've had a considerable problem to cross picket lines set up by the em-
with the accuracy of the work being ployees. Rock said that business was
done," the vice-president continued. slow because of the shortage of
Employees said they were workers.
dissatisfied not only with the rule Rock said there are some temporary
change - labeled by workers workers filling in for those who have
"ridiculqe" - but alsoVjth what they left, and continued that he plans to hire
termed the management's reluctance more.