Strike at NIKE plant in Mexico: TAKE ACTION NOW

Dear Union Sisters and Brothers and other activists:

We have just received the following information from USAS regarding the strike at a NIKE plant in Mexico. They are requesting that letters be sent today, so please act as quickly as you can! The letter which was sent today by UE President John H. Hovis Jr. appears at the end.

In Solidarity,

Robin Alexander
Director of International Labor Affairs United Electrical Workers (UE)

Information received from USAS:

A call-out to all campus groups: take action to support workers at the Kukdong factory who have staged a work stoppage and taken over the factory, demanding an end to the company union and recognition of their autonomous workers' organization. 600 workers are currently occupying the factory and controlling the gates and face threats from riot police as they demand their right to organize.

This is a sweatshop issue! Forward to campus lists and send letters on behalf of your campus group. We know of at least 13 schools (listed at the bottom) whose apparel is produced at Kukdong, but EVERY USAS GROUP SHOULD TAKE UP THIS ISSUE. This goes to prove what we have been saying for years: corporate self-monitoring doesn't work! Nike said that they were monitoring their factories and there weren't any problems, but look what happened! Here's your chance to make a difference in the lives of sweatshop workers who are making our collegiate apparel.

We are asking for 2 types of letters:

1. Letters of solidarity to the workers, preferably in Spanish. Send these letters to librado@gofairtrade.net
2. Letters to Nike and the Kukdong factory management.

Letters to Nike can be sent to Philip H. Knight, Chairman and CEO NIKE, Inc.
One Bowerman Drive
Beaverton,
OR 97003-6433 (remember your 34 cent stamp!)
Fax: (503) 671-6300

Letters to Kukdong can be sent to kukdong@avante.net.mx and/or faxed to 011-52-244-610-24.

Guidelines for letters to Nike and Kukdong:

be sure to mention the workers' 3 demands:

1. That the company disregards the current nonrepresentative union
2. The reinstatement of illegaly fired workers
3. That the company recognize the organization that the workers are forming.

State that you stand fully behind these demands. Mention that the factory's actions and failure to recognize the autonomous workers' organization are in violation of Nike's code of conduct in addition to university codes of conduct and Mexican labor law. Mention your concern for the safety of the workers who face threats from riot police and union thugs. Let them know that you expect them to meet worker demands and NOT to cut and run.

Please cc all letters to me, Nancy, at nsteffan@indiana.edu. I will be compiling the letters and keeping track of support.

We know for sure that apparel for the following schools is made at Kukdong: U of Arizona, Duke, Georgetown, Michigan, U North Carolina, Michigan State, Penn State, Oregon, Maryland, Cal Berkley, Syracuse and UMass.

Please get letters to Nike and Kukdong out by Friday and remember to cc them to me. Next week we will be calling for actions on campuses in support of the workers and against corporate monitoring policies which allowed something like this to happen. Stay tuned.

Peace and Solidarity,
Nancy Steffan
Indiana University, NoSweat!

Dear Mr. Knight,

We, the members of Indiana University's NoSweat!, are concerned about recent events at the Kukdong International Mexico factory, which produces Nike apparel for Indiana University and other state universities. Protesting workers' rights violations, the factory's 800 workers recently staged a work stoppage.

The workers at Kukdong demand that the company:

1. disregards the current nonrepresentative union
2. reinstates of illegally fired workers
3. recognizes the organization that the workers are forming.

NoSweat! stands fully behind these workers and their demands. By refusing to recognize the autonomous workers' organization, the Kukdong factory is violating Nike's code of conduct, Indiana University's code of conduct for apparel licensees, and Mexican labor law. We are concerned with the workers' physical safety, as they face threats from riot police while on strike at the factory.

Nike continually defends its labor practices amidst heavy criticism from student activist groups. Yet an incident such as the Kukdong situation clearly demonstrates Nike's inadequate monitoring procedures for factories with which it conducts business. To avoid a massive public relations fiasco, Nike representatives must take meaningful action now to resolve these injustices. NoSweat! demands that Nike expeditiously send a representative to the Kukdong factory to ensure that the workers' demands are met.

Do not "cut and run." Nike cannot escape from these problems by moving production to another location and leaving these workers behind. As an entire company, you made a commitment to protect your workers' rights and you must follow through on that commitment.

Thank you for your time in dealing with this important and urgent human rights issue. Please let us know how you intend to address the situation.

Sincerely,

The members of NoSweat! at Indiana University nosweat@indiana.edu

To the management of Kukdong International Mexico,

We, the members of Indiana University's NoSweat!, are concerned about recent events at the Kukdong International Mexico factory, which produces Nike apparel for Indiana University and other state universities. As you're well aware, your factory's 800 employees recently staged a work stoppage to protest violations of their basic rights.

The workers at Kukdong are demanding that the company:

1. disregards the current nonrepresentative union,
2. reinstates of illegally fired workers,
3. recognizes the organization that the workers are forming.

NoSweat! stands fully behind these workers and their demands. By >refusing
to recognize the autonomous workers' organization, the Kukdong factory is violating Nike's code of conduct, Indiana University's code of conduct >for
apparel licensees, and Mexican labor law. We are concerned with the workers' physical safety, as they face threats from riot police while on strike at the factory.

The Kukdong Workers' Coalition is the legitimate representative of the workers and must be recognized as such. We demand that you officially recognize this organization and allow all workers to return to work, including those previously fired for union activity. In addition, it is imperative that the company not fire or take reprisals against any >workers for their involvement in the stoppage or other protests.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please let us know how you plan to address the situation.

Sincerely,
NoSweat! at Indiana University
nosweat@indiana.edu

Philip H. Knight,
Chairman and CEO NIKE, Inc.
One Bowerman Drive
Beaverton, OR 97003-6433

VIA Fax (503) 671-6300

Dear Mr. Knight,

I am writing to you on behalf of the 35,000 members of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) to express our support for the workers at the Kukdong International Mexico factory, which produces Nike apparel for state universities in the United States.

We have received information indicating that 800 workers engaged in a work stoppage earlier this week, and are demanding recognition of their labor organization and reinstatement of the workers who were illegally discharged.

The UE is well aware of the practice by companies which operate in Mexico of imposing of ghost unions and protection contracts to deprive workers of their rights. We also know from experience that companies and official unions often use violence and other illegal pressure, frequently with the complicity of the Mexican labor authorities.

Nike has received much negative media attention regarding your labor practices in Asia and this situation - much closer to home - promises to become a new focus of attention if it is not rapidly resolved. We encourage you to take immediate action to ensure that your code of conduct is honored by Kukdong and that the workers' rights of association are fully respected.

We will be watching this situation closely and look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

John H. Hovis, Jr.
President

cc: Kukdong International Mexico

Robin Alexander
UE Director of International Labor Affairs One Gateway Center, Suite 1400
420 Fort Duquesne Blvd.
PGH., PA. 15222-1416

412-471-8919
412-471-8999 FAX

Please note new e-mail address above.

Labor and related news from Mexico is reported bi-monthly in Mexican Labor News and Analysis. Check it out on our web site: <HTTP://www.igc.apc.org/unitedelect/>

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