History

In the fall of 1999, political activism in the United States was at full momentum. Workers were standing for their livelihoods as outsourcing of jobs was becoming more and more common, while many of the victories of the labor movement such as public assistance and welfare programs were under attack from Congress. At the same time, students across the country were mobilizing to fight sweatshop conditions and standing with campus workers’ battles for decent wages and working conditions.

Jobs with Justice and United States Student Association were leaders in both of these movements fighting for human rights. Understanding how a base of community and students would be able to use their collective power to win campaigns that would create real change in peoples’ lives they created a joint initiative: Student Labor Action Project (SLAP).

Since its creation in 1999, SLAP has won many key victories and brought a network of students together in a way that has never been done, building off the success of generations of successful organizers and campaigns.

In 2010, SLAP took on a new direction with the creation of the “SLAP model”. The SLAP Model is based on strengthening ties between Jobs with Justice locals and United States Student Association members to strategically build power on campuses where students and workers come together to create long-lasting relationships and challenge institutions that perpetuate economic and social injustice.