University Defends Using Hill & Knowlton

by Bob Burton — August 9, 2007 - 5:06am
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H & K Maldives Protest
The human rights group Friends of Maldives protests H&K

A local branch of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) representing University of California (UC) employees is protesting against UC management's hiring Hill & Knowlton to spin its labor record. The union called on the university to drop the PR firm, citing John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton's book, "Trust Us, We're Experts," which recounted H&K's work opposing measures to reduce children's lead exposure. In a letter to UC President Robert Dynes, a coalition supporting the AFSCME branch pointed out that the company had also worked for the tobacco industry and "some of the worst human rights abusing states in the world." In an email to PR Week, UC spokesperson Peter Schwartz responded that H&K "has been invaluable in helping us to keep our employees and the general public educated about UC labor negotiations."

Main Source: 
PR Week, August 7, 2007

Comments

University of California

Submitted by hegemon on August 9, 2007 - 8:00pm.

It's unfortunately no surprise that a public institution like the university of California pays hundreds of thousands of dollars to put a pretty face on their despicable record when it comes to labor relations. The white men at the top need to keep the shades drawn some how so the rest of the public who are paying their excessive salaries and perks glaze eyed. The university would have us all believe that the behind the scenes public private relationships somehow benefit the entire public rather than the rich few involved in the deals. The University needs to be held accountable to the public that is charged with serving and get back on the right course.

You gotta love it.

Submitted by Mutternich on August 9, 2007 - 3:33pm.

"...UC spokesperson Peter Schwartz wrote that H&K 'has been invaluable in helping us to keep our employees and the general public educated about UC labor negotiations.'"

Those who can swing a huge student loan or a scholarship, or who are just born rich, get educated by UC. The rest of us get educated by H&K.