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Adidas _ United Students Against Sweatshops - Adidas Human Right Violation
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Transcript of Adidas _ United Students Against Sweatshops - Adidas Human Right Violation
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ByLingranKongandMarkOrtiz
Adidassantiunionanimusseemstohavenolimit.InJuly2012,over1,300workerswerefiredfromthePTPanarubDwiKarya(PDK)facility,asubcontractedfactoryproducingforAdidasinJakarta,Indonesia.Similarfiringshavebeendocumentedatseveralfactories,includingPinehurstManufacturinginHonduras,TroonManufacturingandFlyingNeedleinNicaragua,TextilesOpicoinElSalvador,andJoeAnneDominicanaintheDominicanRepublic,allofwhichproducedforthesportsapparelgiant.
Adidasblatantworkerrightsviolationshaveearnedthemareputationasoneofthethemostcallousbrandsintheworld.ThisOctobertheInternationalUnionLeagueforBrandResponsibility,withalegionofworkersfromover10countries,heldaMonthofActionaspartoftheglobalmovementtoreshapethebusinesspracticesofcorporationssuchasAdidas.
Duringthismonthofaction,onOctober7,workersprotestedthefiringofthestrikingunionmembersatPTPanarubDwikaryainJakarta,Indonesia.OvertheweekendonOctober19,workersatAdidascontractfactoriesinElSalvadorstagedaprotestatthatcountrysonlyauthorizedAdidasdistributortopressurethebrandoverlaborviolationsworldwide.Additionally,inunionleadersinBuenosAirescampaignedtoattainbetterconditionsforleatherworkersinAdidassuppliersinArgentina.WorkersandactivistsinIndia,Nicaragua,HongKongandtheUnitedKingdomareamongthosejoininginwiththeirownprotestactivitieslastmonth.
StudentsbecameawareoftheirinfluenceinthisissueafterhearingfromleadersoftheSitraprimunionaboutthegrossabusesatCentroTextil,aNicaraguanfactorywhichproducescollegelicensedapparelforAdidas.OnMay2and6ofthisyear,15ofthe21foundingmembersoftheSitraprimunionintheCentroTextilfactoryinNicaraguawereunfairlyfiredinretaliationforexercisingtheirlegalrighttoformaunion.TheunionhadjustassembledinfullforthefirsttimeonMay1,andtheirpromptfiringleavesnodoubtthattheywerethevictimsofAdidasviciousantiuniontactics.
ComingoffasuccessfultwoyearcampaigncampaigntogetBadidastopay$1.8millioninlegallymandatedseverancepayinworkersatthePTKizonefactoryinIndonesia,studentswerereadytoconfrontBadidasonceagain.InsolidaritywiththeLeague,studentsatuniversitiesthroughouttheU.S.,includingCornell,UWMadison,andNYU,joinedtheInternationalMonthofActionanddemandedtheiruniversitiespressureAdidastorehirethewrongfullyfiredworkers.OnOctober21st,studentsandworkerssawatremendousvictorywhenAdidaswasforcedtorehire14ofthewrongfullyfiredworkers.
LingranKongisastudentattheUniversityofWisconsinMadisonandamemberofUSASLocal#1.MarkOrtizisastudentattheUniversityofAlabamaandamemberofStudentsforFairLabor.
PostedinInformational,Secondary|Taggedadidas,antisweatshop,badidas,cornell,newyorkuniversity,uwmadison
ByShelbyMastovich,USASLocal123atPennState
USASsEndDeathtrapscampaigntodayachieveditsfirstvictory:AdidashasbecomethefirstcollegelogobrandtosigntheAccordonFireandBuildingSafetyinBangladesh.AdidassmoveoccurredhalfwaythroughanInternationalWeekofActiontoEndDeathtraps,duringwhichstudentsatover30universitiesacrossthecountryheldcampusactionsonthe6monthanniversaryoftheRanaPlazabuildingcollapsetodemandcollegelogobrandssigntheAccord.
Adidassannouncementalsocomesjustsixmonthsafterthecompanyagreedtopay$1.8millioninseverancepaytogarment
VictoryinNicaraguanAdidasFactoryAsAdidasGarmentWorkersStageGlobalProtestNovember8,2013
AdidasisFirstCollegiateApparelCompanytoSigntheBangladeshAccordOctober25,2013
UnitedStudentsAgainstSweatshopsisanationalstudentlabororganizationfightingforworkers'rightswithlocalsonover150campuses.
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Support Our WorkUSASdependsonthesupportofpeoplelikeyoutokeeprunninggroundbreakingcampaignsthattackletherootcauseofinjustice.JoinnowandbecomeamemberofUSAS.
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http://usas.org/category/secondary/http://usas.org/tag/cornell/http://usas.org/http://usas.org/tag/anti-sweatshop/http://usas.org/organize/http://www.thenation.com/blog/176822/students-demand-college-logo-brands-join-fire-and-safety-agreementhttp://usas.org/about/http://usas.org/tag/badidas/http://usas.org/category/informational/https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/5886/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=11085http://usas.org/2013/10/25/adidas-is-first-collegiate-apparel-company-to-sign-the-bangladesh-accord/http://www.bangladeshaccord.org/http://usas.org/contact/http://facebook.com/UnitedStudentsAgainstSweatshopshttp://usas.org/tag/adidas/http://usas.org/2013/11/08/victory-in-nicaraguan-adidas-factory-as-adidas-garment-workers-stage-global-protest/http://usas.org/tag/uw-madison/http://usas.org/campaigns/http://usas.org/tag/new-york-university/
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workersatthePTKizonefactoryinIndonesia,followingthelargestcollegiateboycottofatopthreesportswearbrandinhistory,with17collegesanduniversitiesendingtheirAdidascontractsduringtheBadidascampaign.
NowthatAdidashassignedtheAccord,alleyesareonVFCorporation,Nike,TopoftheWorldandotherplayersinthecollegiateapparelindustrywhohaveshirkedresponsibility.Withover100brandsandretailerssignedontotheAccord,thesebrandsarerunningoutofexcuses.
Ouruniversitiesarelikewiserunningoutofexcusesforwhytheyhaventrequiredbrandstodotherightthing.Justlastweek,theWorkerRightsConsortiumformallyrecommendedthatuniversitiesrequirebrandsproducingcollegiateapparelinBangladeshtosigntheAccord.
Campaignsoncampusareheatingup.Forexample,hereatPennState,USASLocal123hasbuiltacoalitionof20studentgroupsincludingprogressive,faith,Greek,andculturalorganizationswhowantPennStatetouseitspowerintheapparelindustrytoenddeathtrapfactories.Earlierthisweek,weheldavigilcallingonPennStateadministrationtoact.
AsUSATODAYreported,theEndDeathtrapscampaignisjustbeginning,andwontstopuntilouruniversitiesdotherightthingandrequirelicenseestojointheAccord.Wanttogetyourcampusinvolved?Contactanorganizerandwellgetyoustarted.
PostedinInformational,Secondary|Taggedadidas,bangladesh,bangladeshsafetyaccord,enddeathtraps|
Inhardfoughtvictory,studentsandworkershaveforcedGermansportsweargiantAdidastocompensate2,700formerIndonesiangarmentworkerswhoproducedcollegiateapparelatPTKizone,anAdidassupplierfactorythatcloseddownovertwoyearsago.Whilethecontentsoftheagreementremainconfidential,thePTKizoneworkerspressreleasestatedthattheformerworkerswillreceiveasubstantialsumfromAdidasandthesettlementwillresolveapowerfulinternationalcampaignoverAdidasspriorrefusaltopay$1.8millioninunpaidseverancepayfollowingtheclosureofPTKizone.
ThisagreementbuildsonthehistoricprecedentthatUSASactivistssetwithNikein2010whenthebrandwasforcedtopaytwomilliondollarsinlegallyowedseverancepayto1,800formerHondurangarmentworkers.
Foryears,workersintheglobalapparelindustryhaveroutinelybeenrobbedoftheirlegallymandatedseverancepaywhenfactoriesclose.Withtodaysannouncement,studentsandworkershaveestablishedanewnormintheglobalgarmentindustry;thetwolargestsportswearbrandsintheworldhavebothacknowledgedthattheycannolongerwalkawaywhen
VICTORY!BadidasCampaignForcesAdidastoRespectIndonesianGarmentWorkerRightsApril24,2013
http://usas.org/2013/04/24/victory-badidas-campaign-forces-adidas-to-respect-indonesian-garment-worker-rights/http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/campus/article_fae6804c-3ab4-11e3-85da-001a4bcf6878.htmlhttp://usas.org/tag/adidas/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/10/25/student-activism-bangladesh/3188803/http://usas.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2013/04/Adidas-victory-graphic1.jpghttp://usas.org/tag/bangladesh/http://usas.org/category/informational/http://usas.org/contact/http://usas.org/tag/bangladesh-safety-accord/http://usas.org/tag/end-deathtraps/http://usas.org/category/secondary/http://usas.org/2013/04/24/victory-badidas-campaign-forces-adidas-to-respect-indonesian-garment-worker-rights/
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theircontractorsdepriveworkersofmoneytheyhavelegallyearned,saidLingranKong,astudentattheUniversityofWisconsinMadison.
AdidassdecisiontocompensateitssubcontractedworkersforthefirsttimeinhistoryisavictoryoftheBadidascampaignledbyUnitedStudentsAgainstSweatshops.Aftertwocoasttocoastworkertoursandescalatingoncampusactionsacrossthecountry,thecampaignprovokedthelargestcollegiateboycottofatopthreesportswearcompanyinhistory,with17totaluniversitiesandcollegesendingtheircontractswithAdidas.
TheseschoolsincludeCornellUniversity,OberlinCollege,theUniversityofWashington,BrownUniversity,RutgersUniversity,GeorgetownUniversity,theCollegeofWilliam&Mary,SantaClaraUniversity,PennStateUniversity,NortheasternUniversity,theUniversityofMontana,theUniversityofMinnesotaTwinCities,Crookston,andMorris,OregonStateUniversity,TempleUniversity,andWashingtonStateUniversity.AlliesinEurope,includingPeople&Planet,CleanClothesCampaign,andWarOnWantalsolaunchedcampaigns,bringingincredibleinternationalpressuretobearonthecompany.
WhilethereiscertainlymoretobedonetocleanupviolationsofworkersrightsinAdidasssupplychain,USASisverypleasedthattheDPCunionandthePTKizoneworkerscoordinatingcommitteehavereachedanagreementwithAdidasthatwillachievelongawaitedjusticeforthe2,700formerPTKizoneworkersandtheirfamilies.
JoinUSASandthePTKizoneworkersincelebratingthisvictorybyaddingyournametoourletterofcongratulationsusingtheformontheleft!
USASstatementforthemedia.
PostedinAction,Secondary|Taggedadidas,antisweatshop,badidas,indonesia,ptkizone,victory|
Friends,
StudentsandworkersareswarmingallaroundAdidasAmericaheadquartersinPortland.TogetherwithPortlandJobswithJustice,weretakingtheBadidasCampaigndirectlytothesource,goingfacetofacewiththecorporationthatrobbedusof$1.8millionwearerightfullyowed.
OurnamesareYudoSasmitoandAsmiatiWandoyo,andweusedtoworkatthePTKizonefactoryinIndonesia.WearrivedintheUSjustlastweek,andweretouringthecountrytoexpandthecollegiateboycottofAdidas.Butfirst,wewantedtostop
AdidasHeadquartersisonLockdownBecauseofUsApril9,2013
http://usas.org/category/action/http://usas.org/tag/adidas/http://usas.org/2013/04/09/sign-our-warning-letter-to-adidas/http://usas.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2013/04/USAS-Press-Release-on-Adidas-Victory-04.24.13.pdfhttp://usas.org/tag/badidas/http://usas.org/tag/anti-sweatshop/http://usas.org/category/secondary/http://usas.org/tag/pt-kizone/http://usas.org/tag/indonesia/http://usas.org/tag/victory/
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byheadquartersandgiveAdidasawarning:wewontstopuntilwewin.
Canwecountonyoursupport?SignourwarninglettertoAdidasusingtheformtotheleftandletthemknowthatyoustandwithus,andyouwontbackdowneither.
Adidasisquicklybecominganoutcastintheworldofcollegelogoapparel,andwewontbesorrytoseethemgo.Justlastweek,theUniversityofMontanabecamethe10thtobreaktieswiththecompany,andmanymoreuniversitiesarepoisedtodothesame.
Earliertoday,studentshungamassivebannerfromabridgenearAdidassbuilding.Werejustabouttogotrytodeliverapetitionsignedbyhundredsofourcoworkersdemandingwhatwearerightfullyowed,butincredibly,Adidashaslockeddowntheirentireheadquarters,fencingoffthepropertyandpostingsecurityguards.Injustafewminutes,wellgoseeifanyonewilltalktous.Letshopetheydoafterall,wecameallthewayfromIndonesiaforthis!
WehaveachantthatweuseatourdemonstrationsinIndonesia.Itmeanslonglivetheworkers,anditgoeslikethis:hidupburuh!
Hidupburuh,YudoandAsmiati
PostedinAction,Primary|Taggedadidas,antisweatshop,ptkizone|
For11months,theBrownUniversityStudentLaborAlliancehascalledonouradministratorstorespecttherightsoftheworkerswhomakeouruniversityapparelbycuttingBrownscontractwithAdidasinresponsetoegregiousviolationsatthePTKizonefactoryinIndonesia.Adidashasrefusedtopayworkers$1.8millioninearnedandlegallyowedseverancepay,whichisabouthalfayearssalaryfortheaverageworker.Thisisanunacceptableviolationofourcontract,andashamefulabuseoftherightsofworkersinourglobalcommunity.
SendamessagetoBrownspresident,ChristinaPaxson,askinghertocutthecontractwithAdidasnow.
PresidentPaxsonhasrespondedtoourcampaignbydismissingstudentvoicesandbuyingintoAdidasslies,tellingustoputyourselfinthecompanysshoeswhenwedemandaction.ThatswhywererallyingonourMainGreeninthesnowtoday,demandingthatPaxsonrespectworkersandtakestudentvoicesseriously.
SupportourrallybysendinganemailtoChristinaPaxsonrightnowandaskhertocutBrownscontractwithAdidas.
PostedinAction,Secondary|Taggedadidas,brownuniversity,indonesia,ptkizone|
DaysafterwecrashedFashionWeekinNewYork,anothershowdownoverAdidasslaborpracticesisabouttogodowninCalifornia.Tomorrow,animportantUniversityofCaliforniacommitteeispoisedtovoteonthefateofAdidasintheUCSystem,andPresidentMarkYudofneedstohearfromyou.
Overayearago,thePTKizonefactoryinIndonesia,anAdidassupplier,shutdownwithoutpayinglegallymandatedseverancetoits2,800workers,leavingthemunemployedandunabletosupporttheirfamilies.Workersarestillowed$1.8million,butAdidasrefusestopayasinglepenny.
ThisisnotthefirsttimeAdidashasrefusedtotakeresponsibilityforitsworkers.AnAdidasfacilityinElSalvadorclosedin2005,leavingemployeeswithout$825,000legallyowedthem.InatleastfourmoreAdidassupplierfactoriessincethen,tensofthousandsofworkershavehadmillionsofdollarsinseverancestolenfromthem.
UCadministratorsaremeetingtomorrowtodecidewhetherornottocutAdidasscontract,includingamultimilliondollardealwithUCLA.Adidassbehaviorclearlyviolatestheethicalandlegalstandardswestandfor,andwewillnotsitidlybywhiletheycontinuetorunroughshodovertherightsofworkerswhoproduceUCapparel.
PostedinAction|Taggedadidas,antisweatshop,badidas,ptkizone,universityofcalifornia|
ChristinaPaxson:CuttheAdidasContractNow!March19,2013
UCPresidentYudof:CutAdidasNowFebruary11,2013
http://usas.org/category/action/http://usas.org/category/secondary/http://usas.org/tag/adidas/http://usas.org/category/primary/http://usas.org/tag/brown-university/http://usas.org/tag/badidas/http://usas.org/category/action/http://usas.org/tag/pt-kizone/http://badidas.com/2013/02/07/selena-dont-be-an-ambassador-for-sweatshops/http://usas.org/tag/university-of-california/http://usas.org/tag/pt-kizone/http://usas.org/tag/anti-sweatshop/http://usas.org/2013/03/19/christina-paxson-cut-the-adidas-contract-now/http://usas.org/tag/adidas/http://usas.org/tag/indonesia/http://usas.org/2013/02/11/uc-president-yudof-cut-adidas-now/http://usas.org/tag/pt-kizone/http://usas.org/tag/anti-sweatshop/http://usas.org/tag/adidas/http://usas.org/category/action/
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Today,welaunchthenextstageinthecampaigntocompelAdidastotakedirectresponsibilityforitssprawlingglobalworkforce.
Today,werefusetoacceptAdidasstwistedprotestationsthatitbearsnorealresponsibilityforitsfactories,evenasworkerscontinuetoburnaliveinsimilarsubcontractedgarmentfactorydeathtrapsacrossBangladesh.
TodayinsolidaritywithAdidasworkersacrosstheglobeweannouncethelaunchoftheBadidasCampaignandWorkerTour,andournewwebsite,Badidas.com.
Itsbeen22monthssincePTKizone,anAdidassubcontractorinIndonesia,shutdownwithoutpayinglegallymandatedseverancetoits2,800workers.22monthsthatthose2,800workershavestruggledtomakeendsmeet,pullingtheirchildrenoutofschoolandbeingpushedoutoftheirhomesasmorethantwothirdsofthemremainoutofwork.22monthsthatAdidashasstubbornlyrefusedtopayasinglecentinseverance.
Nextweek,thousandsoffashionindustryglitteratiwilldescendonNewYorkCityforFashionWeekandAdidaswillbethereaswell,stagingaglamorousandexpensivegalaforitsY3fashionline.Theglitteratiwontbetheonlyonesattending,though.
USASiscrashingFashionWeek.WerebringingtogethergarmentworkersfromBangladesh,Honduras,Nicaragua,andtwoofthePTKizoneworkersthemselves.TogetherwithstudentsandworkersfromacrossNewYork,weregoingtoshowAdidaswhatwethinkofitsstubbornrefusaltorespecthumanrightsinitssupplychain.
Butitdoesntendthere.AfterFashionWeek,weregoingontour.
KickingoffinNewYorkCity,wellgotocitiesacrossthecountrytospreadthewordaboutAdidassmisdeeds,visitingcampuseslikeFordhamUniversity,PennState,VillanovaUniversity,andTempleUniversityinthefirstweekalone.
SignourpetitiondemandingAdidastakeresponsibilityforitsworkers,andfollowtheBadidasWorkerToursprogresshere.
Thisisjustthebeginning,andwecantwaittoshowyouwhatscomingnext.
PostedinInformational,Secondary|Taggedadidas,antisweatshop,badidas,ptkizone|
ByMelissaHorsfallandLingranKong
Aftermonthsoflegalwrangling,theDaneCountyCircuitCourtinWisconsinhasruledthattheunionrepresentingformerAdidasgarmentworkershastherighttointerveneasathirdpartyintheongoinglawsuitbetweentheUniversityofWisconsinandAdidas.TheUWfiledsuitagainstAdidaslastsummeroverthecompanysrefusaltopay$1.8millioninlegallyowedseverancepayto2,800formerworkersatPTKizone,ashutteredAdidassupplierfactoryinIndonesia.
AftertheworkersfiledtointerveneinSeptember,Adidasmaneuveredtotrytoblocktheeffort,butthejudgeruledagainstthecompany,recognizingthatthePTKizoneworkersunionhastherighttointervenebecauseithasdifferinginterests,goals,andstrategiesthantheuniversity.ThisdecisionwillallowtheworkerstopresenttheircasealongsidetheWisconsinAttorneyGeneral,whorepresentstheUW.
UWMadisonhasan$11millionsponsorshipagreementthatgrantsexclusiverightstoAdidastooutfitUWathletes.Students,alongwithcommunityalliesliketheSouthCentralFederationofLaborandtheInterfaithCoalitionforWorkerJusticehavecalledonUWMadisontoterminatethecontract.InNovemberof2011,UWMadisonsLaborLicensingPolicyCommitteerecommendedthatChancellorWardcuttieswithAdidas,andtheDaneCountyBoardofSupervisorspassedaresolutionthissummersupportingtheeffort.
Sincethelawsuitwasfiled,CornellUniversity,OberlinCollege,theUniversityofWashington,RutgersUniversity,GeorgetownUniversity,andtheCollegeofWilliam&MaryhaveallendedorpledgedtoendtheircontractswithAdidasoverthePTKizoneviolations.ThedecisionbythecourttoallowtheworkersuniontojointhesuitbringsUWMadisononestepclosertojoiningthesesixuniversitiesintakingastandtodemandaccountabilityandfairlaborpracticesfromcompaniesproducingcollegiateapparel.
AnnouncingtheBadidasCampaignandWorkerTourFebruary3,2013
PTKizoneWorkersWinRighttoInterveneinUWv.AdidasLawsuitJanuary23,2013
http://usas.org/category/informational/http://usas.org/2013/02/03/announcing-the-badidas-campaign-and-worker-tour/http://usas.org/2013/01/23/pt-kizone-workers-win-right-to-intervene-in-uw-v-adidas-lawsuit/http://badidas.com/http://badidas.com/http://usas.org/tag/adidas/http://usas.org/tag/anti-sweatshop/http://usas.org/tag/badidas/http://usas.org/tag/pt-kizone/http://usas.org/category/secondary/
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MelissaHorsfallandLingranKongarestudentsattheUniversityofWisconsinMadisonandmembersoftheStudentLaborActionCoalition,aUSASaffiliate.
PostedinInformational,Secondary|Taggedadidas,antisweatshop,indonesia,ptkizone,severance,universityofwisconsinuniversityofwisconsinmadison|
ByRachelShevrinandMorganCurrier,USASorganizersattheUniversityofWashington
BeginninginMarch2012,membersofUniversityofWashingtonUSASstartedacampaignagainstAdidasoverthebrandsrefusaltopayIndonesiangarmentworkersatthePTKizonefactory$1.8millioninlegallyowedseverance.OurdemandwasthattheUWsevertieswiththebrandunlesstheyagreedtoremediatetheirlaborviolations.
WestartedourcampaignbyeducatingthecampusaboutAdidasthroughholdingateachin,followedupbythedeliveryofagiantchecktothePresidentoftheUniversity.Thecheckwasfor$1.8milliondollarsandmadeouttoAdidas.WedeliveredthischecktoPresidentMichaelYoungwiththehopethathewouldtakeactiontoensureAdidaspaidthismoneyowedtotheirworkers.
AfterwecontinuedtoholdsimilaractionsoncampustoputpressureonPresidentYoungtocutourcontractwithAdidas,membersofUWUSASputGreggNebel,AdidasDirectorofSocialandEnvironmentalAffairs,inthehotseat,demandingthatheleavealicensingcommitteemeetingabitearlierthanheintended.
AfterhearingstraightfromthebrandthattheyhadnointentiontopayseverancetothePTKizoneworkers,UWstudentscontinuedcampaigningfullforce,urgingPresidentYoungtocutthecontract.Aftermoreactionstookplace,includingoneswherewedresseduplikezombiesandthrewonourPJsinthemiddleoftheafternoon,wehadanotherchancetospeaktoMr.NebelattheannualmeetingoftheFairLaborAssociation(FLA),whichtookplaceonourcampus.Again,infrontofhisfellowboardmembers,studentsconfrontedNebeldirectlyaboutAdidasrefusaltotakeanyresponsibilityforpayingtheworkersatPTKizone.
Lastweek,wereceivedwordfromPresidentYoungthathewouldbeendingourbusinessrelationshipwithAdidas,effectiveimmediately.WhatisespeciallysignificantaboutthisactionisthatPresidentYoungdidnotincludearemediationperiodthatiscustomaryofcontractcuts.BecauseofourstrongcampaignandAdidasblatantrefusaltobeheldaccountable,PresidentYoungdecidedtotakeaharderstanceandsevertiesimmediatelywithAdidasmidwaythroughthecontract.
ThisvictoryalsocoincidedwithanothervictoryforAdidasworkersthisweek.InMay2012,workersatFlyingNeedle,aAdidassupplierfactoryinNicaragua,formedauniontoexercisetheirlegalrighttobargainforanendtosweatshopconditionsintheirfactory.Aftertheformationoftheunion,FlyingNeedlemanagementinitiatedanaggressiveantiunioncampaign,whichincludedtheillegalfiringof17unionleaders.
Aftermanagementsinitialwaveof12antiuniondismissalsinMayandearlyJune,theunionfiledacomplaintwiththeNicaraguanMinistryofLabor.Afterconductinganinvestigation,theMinistryofLabordeclaredthesefiringsillegalunderNicaraguanlawonJune8th,statingthattheworkersmustbereinstated.
Inresponsetomilitantworkeractionandpressurefromstudents,thisweekFlyingNeedleagreedtoreinstatealltheelectedunionleaderswithfullbackpay!ThevictoryattheUW,aswellasotherUSAScampaignsacrossthecountry,offeredthesupportthesebraveworkersneededinordertofightandwinagainstthisAdidassupplier.
Still,theeventsatFlyingNeedleillustratefundamentalflawsinAdidastreatmentofworkersinitssupplychain.Adidasclaimstoconsistentlymonitoritsfactoriestoensurecompliancewithlocallaborlaw,FlyingNeedledemonstratesthattheoppositeistrue.Forfivemonths,Adidasdidnothingtosecurethereinstatementoftheunjustlyfiredworkers,evenaftertheMinistryofLaborhaddirectedlocalmanagementtodoso.ItwasonlywhenworkersreachedoutdirectlytointernationallaborrightsorganizationsandbuyersthatAdidasactedtoencouragetheirsuppliertoremediatetheviolations.
Moreover,FlyingNeedleisfarfromanisolatedcaseforAdidas.UnionleaderswerealsoillegallyfiredwhentheyformedunionsatAdidassuppliersAugustaManufacturing(Nicaragua)inMarch2012andPinehurstManufacturing(Honduras)inAugust2010.Adidashasfailedtoimplementanycomprehensivesolutionstostemthispatternofantiunionbehavior.
Nevertheless,thevictoriesatFlyingNeedleandtheUniversityofWashingtonareatruetestamenttothepowerofstudentworkersolidarity.FromeveryoneinUWUSAS,welookforwardtostandinginsolidaritywithothercampusestakingactionagainstAdidasbecauseweknowWHENWEFIGHT,WEWIN!
FromSeattletoManagua:VictoryattheUniversityofWashingtonandFlyingNeedle!November16,2012
http://www.workersrights.org/Freports/WRC%20Assessment%20re%20Pinehurst%20(Honduras)%20-%207.13.12.pdfhttp://dailyuw.com/archive/2012/05/11/news/usas-continues-adidas-conversation-administration#.UKXBZ4Ufklchttp://usas.org/tag/pt-kizone/http://uwseattle.usas.org/2012/10/23/all-day-i-dream-about-severence-adidas-dream-action/http://usas.org/tag/university-of-wisconsin/https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151144306846704.437816.10009301703&type=3http://usas.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/11/Res-MITRAB-contra-despedidos-8-junio-2012.pdfhttp://dailyuw.com/archive/2012/02/23/news/uw-committee-puts-adidas-%E2%80%98hot-seat%E2%80%99#.UKXB6oUfklchttp://usas.org/tag/adidas/http://usas.org/2012/11/16/from-seattle-to-managua-victory-at-the-university-of-washington-and-flying-needle/http://usas.org/tag/university-of-wisconsin-madison/http://usas.org/tag/severance/http://usas.org/tag/anti-sweatshop/http://usas.org/tag/indonesia/http://uwseattle.usas.org/2012/10/24/adidas-sweatshops-are-scary/http://usas.org/category/informational/http://uwseattle.usas.org/2012/10/23/usas-crashes-fair-labor-association-annual-board-meeting/http://usas.org/category/secondary/http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/nacionales/268830-planton-despidos-ilegales-zona-franca.
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Olderposts
PostedinInformational,Secondary|Taggedadidas,antisweatshop,ptkizone,UniversityofWashington,victory|
OrganizationsfromallovertheworldaretellingAdidastostopthrowingaroundexcusesandfinallypayupwhattheyowethePTKizoneworkersinIndonesia.WewantAdidastoknowthatwewillnotbesilencedbyemptygestures.
JointheglobalFacebookactionandtellAdidasNothingIsImpossible!
Gotohttp://www.facebook.com/adidasoriginalsandleaveyourowncommentsonanyoftheirpostsorcopyandpasteourmessage:ImshockedhearthatyouarerefusingtopayPTKizoneworkersthemoneytheyareowed$1.8millionisnothingtoyou.UNLIKE.Then,likeUSASonFacebookformoreactionsthroughouttheweek.
Leaveyourcomments,sharewithyourfriends,andlettheglobalactionbegin!
ThePTKizonefactoryclosedinApril2011,leaving2,800peopleoutofworkandowed$1.8millioninseverance.Foroverayearandahalf,2,800exPTKizoneworkershavebeenfightingfortheseverancepaytheyareowedsincetheirbosssuddenlyclosedthefactoryandfledthecountry.Overthelastsixmonths,PTKizoneworkershavebeenjoinedbythousandsofsupportersfromacrosstheworldwhohavetakenactiondemandingthatAdidaspayup.Despitethis,Adidasstillinsiststheywillnotpay.
Thecampaignpressureisworking:althoughAdidascontinuestodenyresponsibility,theyhavetriedtodeflectcriticismbycomingupwithvariousschemestogetthemselvesoffthehook,includinghandingoutfoodvouchersandorganizingasummitinSwitzerlandlastmonthtotrytoburnishtheirpublicimage.ThisisnotenoughPTKizoneworkerssimplywantwhattheyareowedandwewontstopuntiltheygetit.
Adidasisfeelingtheheat,butweneedmore.WewanttoshowAdidastheycantignoreus.TogetherwewillcontinuebreathingdownAdidasneckuntilthegarmentworkersatthePTKizonefactoryarepaidthe$1.8millioninlegallymandatedseverancetheyareowed.
PostedinAction,Secondary|Taggedadidas,antisweatshop,ptkizone,severance|
TellAdidas:StopMakingExcusesPaythePTKizoneWorkersNow!November5,2012
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