From: Maquila Solidarity Network <info@maquilasolidarity.org> Sent: Fri, 26 Jan 2001 11:55:42 -0500

Nike in Mexico: Independent Reports Confirm Workers’ Rights Violated

January 26, 2001
Update #2

Independent Reports Confirm: Nike Workers' Rights Violated

Reports from two independent investigations into the labour dispute at Nike's Kuk Dong contract factory in Atlixco, Puebla, Mexico have confirmed that independent union supporters who participated in a January 9 work stoppage are being denied the right to return to their jobs, and that their right to freedom of association is being violated.

On January 25, a six-member investigative team from the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC), a code of conduct implementation body involving 67 US universities, released a preliminary report confirming that severe ongoing violations of university codes were taking place, and calling on its member universities to take immediate steps to seek the reinstatement of the five fired leaders of the independent union and all other workers who have not been able to return to work after the work stoppage and are willing to go back to work.

The WRC report concludes that Kuk Dong violated a legally binding agreement with worker representatives to rehire, without punitive action, all workers who participated in the strike, and violated the workers' right to freedom of association as defined by Mexican labour law, the ILO, and the Nike Code of Conduct. For a copy of the WRC report see: www.workersrights.org.

On the same day, the International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF) released a report to 149 US universities affiliated to the Fair Labor Association (FLA), confirming that the company had failed to reinstate striking workers, and that this would have a negative impact on any subsequent union representation election.

The ILRF report also confirms that workers who attempted to return to work after the work stoppage were rejected unless they signed statements in support of the CROC (the "official" union affiliated to Mexico's historical ruling party the PRI).

The report calls on Nike to send a representative to the factory with the authority to insist that all workers be reinstated. According to the ILRF, Nike's Latin America compliance office supervisor, Gabriel Llaguno, visited the factory today, and confirmed that the CROC representative was refusing to allow workers who had sought a new union to regain their jobs.

The fact that the ILRF investigation was carried out at Nike's request by Arturo Alcalde, a respected Mexican labour lawyer, will make it difficult for Nike to ignore his recommendations. Both Nike and the ILRF are members of the Fair Labor Association.

The Kuk Dong factory produces Nike sweatshirts for at least eight US universities, some of which are members of the WRC and others of the FLA. The factory also manufactures apparel for Reebok and other major brands.

The Kuk Dong dispute has been a major blow to Nike, which claims its code of conduct and external monitoring system ensure respect for freedom of association and other worker rights.

Thanks to all of you who have responded to our Urgent Action Alerts by writing letters to Nike and Mexican president Vicente Fox. To date, over 40 Canadian organizations and individuals have sent letters, including the Canadian Labour Congress, the Canadian Autoworkers, and the National Action Committee on the Status of Women.

Please be prepared to respond to future Urgent Action Alerts if the recommendations in these two reports are not promptly carried out.

Web: www.maquilasolidarity.org

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