PUMA IN MESSICO - Aggiornamenti - Clean Clothes Campaign

["Ersilia Monti" <ersilia.monti at mclink.it>]

Informo che da alcuni giorni i casi che vi inoltro sono scaricabili dal
sito: www.lilliputmilano.org/lab/consumocritico.html al link Campagna Abiti
Puliti.
Ersilia Monti


PUMA IN MESSICO - Aggiornamenti - PUMA DISPOSTA A RIVEDERE LA SUA
POSIZIONE - Clean Clothes Campaign

DALLA RELAZIONE DEL CIR (Christiliche Iniziative Romero), organizzazione
aderente alla Clean Clothes Campaign tedesca:

Il 24 febbraio si e' svolto negli uffici della Puma a Muenster un incontro
fra rappresentanti della multinazionale tedesca, del CIR per conto della
Clean Clothes Campaign,  e del CAT (Centro de Apoyo al Trabajador) di Puebla
al termine del quale Puma si e' dichiarata disponibile ad assegnare nuove
commesse al fornitore messicano Matamoros Garment e ad accettare ispezioni
indipendenti sul posto. Il giorno successivo e' stata convocata dalla Clean
Clothes Campaign tedesca una conferenza stampa a Colonia  con Gabriela
Cortes, rappresentante del CAT di Puebla. Sono state illustrate ai
giornalisti le richieste rivolte a Puma: 1) Assicurare nuovi ordini; 2) dare
garanzie ufficiali ai lavoratori che sara' rispettata la liberta' di
associazione sindacale; 3) favorire elezioni sindacali libere e a voto
segreto; esercitare pressioni sulle autorita' affinche' riconoscano l'
organizzazione sindacale scelta dai lavoratori e le conferiscano il potere
di contrattazione; 4) elaborare un piano d'intervento correttivo; 5)
accettare strumenti di monitoraggio/verifica indipendenti. La campagna
tedesca ha precisato che, in assenza di fatti concreti da parte di Puma,
gettera' il suo peso nella campagna di pressione pubblica. Nel pomeriggio il
portavoce di Puma, Reiner Hengstmann, ha informato il CIR di aver dato
incarico alla consociata di Los Angeles di scrivere alla Matamoros Garment e
all'agente di Puma per confermare la ripresa degli ordinativi, e si riserva
di discutere del monitoraggio quando questi ultimi saranno ufficializzati.
Il giorno stesso Puma ha diramato un comunicato (traduzione sommaria a
seguire) nel quale ribadisce l'intenzione di riprendere, pur  ponendo alcune
condizioni, il rapporto di collaborazione con la Matamoros. La Clean Clothes
Campaign tedesca invita tutti a non interrompere la campagna di pressione
sino a quando non ci siano conferme concrete dell'accettazione di tutte le
richieste da parte di Puma. Precisa inoltre che la "tavola rotonda"
menzionata da Puma al punto 5 e' stata annunciata nell'incontro del 24
febbraio ma in termini vaghi.

DAL COMUNICATO DELLA PUMA  DEL 25.2.2003 (sintesi dei punti principali,
trovate il testo originale completo in coda)

1- Il 7 ottobre 2002 Puma ha sospeso le commesse a causa delle restrizioni
finanziarie sofferte da Matamoros in conseguenza dello stato di insolvenza
di uno dei suoi maggiori clienti. La decisione e' stata presa di comune
accordo con il titolare della fabbrica. I volumi lavorati per conto di Puma
erano solo una piccola parte della capacita' produttiva di Matamoros; l'
esistenza di quest'ultima continuera' a dipendere in futuro dalla sua
capacita' di attrarre clienti che le assicurino il pieno utilizzo degli
impianti.
2- Il sindacato CTM rappresentava ufficialmente i lavoratori della Matamoros
ben prima dell'arrivo di Puma, la quale,  attraverso il suo codice di
condotta, dichiara senza equivoci di sostenere la liberta' di associazione
sindacale, e si asterra' pertanto sia dal favorire che dall'ostacolare la
nascita di organizzazioni sindacali negli stabilimenti dei suoi fornitori.
Nella sua veste di cliente, Puma non ritiene corretto ingerirsi nei
conflitti di attribuzione di potere fra le organizzazioni sindacali e i
governi locali, e fra sigle sindacali. Esula dai suoi scopi oltrepassare il
limite del rispetto delle leggi nazionali per tentare di modificarle.
3- Non ci sono ostacoli a futuri rapporti commerciali con la Matamoros, ma
alcune condizioni devono essere soddisfatte. E' necessario infatti che la
situazione finanziaria della fabbrica migliori per consentire lo
svolgimento, senza ritardi o interruzioni, delle normali attivita'
produttive,  e che le politiche sociali e ambientali di Puma siano accettate
e rispettate senza riserve. Puma fa appello alla Clean Clothes Campaign
tedesca affinche' si faccia mediatrice di un dialogo fra le parti allo scopo
di garantire l'attuazione di queste condizioni con reciproca soddisfazione.
4- Il 31 gennaio scorso Puma ha inviato una squadra di ispettori alla
Matamoros con l'incarico di svolgere indagini in merito alle contestazioni
che le erano state rivolte. Compito degli ispettori era quello di
raccogliere informazioni di prima mano sugli accadimenti, passare al vaglio
documenti rilevanti, condurre interviste con una ventina di lavoratori
scelti a caso. Di alcune di queste attivita' Puma ha voluto conservare una
testimonianza filmata a tutela della veridicita' delle sue deduzioni. Ai
lavoratori e' stata data la possibilita' di rifiutare l'intervista filmata,
sono state svolte infatti due tipi di interviste quelle filmate e quelle non
filmate. Inoltre si e' cercato di favorire un clima in cui le interviste
potessero essere svolte in modo obiettivo e disteso garantendo nel contempo
la riservatezza.
5- Puma continua a perseguire un dialogo costruttivo fra le parti e lo fara'
attraverso la creazione di un forum di discussione allo scopo di rafforzare
la collaborazione fra tutte le parti in causa e di promuovere al contempo
comportamenti responsabili sul piano sociale ed ambientale. Puma ricerca la
collaborazione di mediatori imparziali, di gruppi portatori di interessi
specifici, di esponenti politici e sindacali, e di ong.
6- Il 25 febbraio scorso il centro acquisti americano di Puma (World Cat
America) ha rivolto formale richiesta all'agente negli Stati Uniti e alla
Matamoros Garment Factory di definire un possibile piano produttivo. Cio' a
riprova dell'impegno di Puma di riprendere normali rapporti commerciali con
la Matamoros.


---------------------
Per essere esclusi dalla lista o ricevere informazioni sulla Clean Clothes
Campaign, inviate un messaggio a :
ersilia.monti at mclink.it
Ersilia Monti
(Coordinamento lombardo nord/sud del mondo - Rete di Lilliput Nodo di
Milano)
P.le Governo Provvvisorio 6
20127 Milano
tel.02-26140345
email: ersilia.monti at mclink.it
-------------------


> -----Messaggio originale-----
> Da: clean clothes campaign [mailto:ccc at xs4all.nl]
> Inviato: martedi 4 marzo 2003 11.27
> A: Fransesco Gesualdi; ersilia.monti at unimib.it; info at renaklader.org;
> Carole Crabbe; LBL at gn.apc.org; Ingeborg Wick; Pascal Erard;
> info at ethique-sur-etiquette.org; Frieda de Koninck; cck at oneworld.at;
> stefan.kerl at oneworld.at; christian.muecke at bankaustria.com; Angela Hale;
> Lara Cataldi; Isabelle Chaudet; Stefan Indermuhle;
> PeterPennartz at irene-network.nl; AvLuijken at irene-network.nl;
> CCC-D at dgb-bildungswerk.de; ropalimpia at pangea.org; b.musiolek at knuut.de;
> CI-Romero at t-online.de; cidac at esoterica.pt; ccc at mbox.cit.bg; Bo
> Sundqvist; info at renaklader.org; chantal.duval2 at wanadoo.fr; Joel
> Lindefors; Elena Estrada; caguilar at setem.org; ccc at xs4all.nl
> Oggetto: Fwd: Re latest NikeWatch news.
>
>
>
> >X-XS4ALL-DNSBL-Checked: mxzilla2.xs4all.nl checked 203.24.133.1 against
> >DNS blacklists
> >X-XS4ALL-Pad: empty
> >X-Filtered: qmail-filter $Revision: 1.6 $ $Date: 2001/02/13 23:41:19 $
> >X-Sender: tconnor at pop.nlc.net.au
> >X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.1
> >Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 08:54:07 +1100
> >To: info at cleanclothes.org
> >From: Tim Connor <timothyc at sydney.caa.org.au>
> >Subject: Re latest NikeWatch news.
> >
> >HI CCC'ers
> >
> >Below is the latest NikeWatch News, with an email action targetting
> >Footlocker stores. I would like to forward it to the CCC list
> >(particularly to the Italians) who have been sending heaps of emails re
> >the Doson case.
> >
> >Does the latest news re Montamaros mean I need to change it though before
> >we pass it to other CCC's though? Is Puma definitely going back in?
> >
> >best, Tim
> >
> >NikeWatch News - February 2003
> >
> >******************************************
> >There are now 2,000 of us on the NikeWatch lists.
> >The more of us there are, the harder we are to ignore.
> >******************************************
> >
> >UPDATE FROM LAST ACTION:
> >A big thank you to the 174 list members who have, in the last two months,
> >sent protest emails to Nike in support of workers from two Nike
suppliers,
> >the Bed and Bath Prestige factory in Thailand and the PT Doson factory in
> >Indonesia.
> >
> >The Thai government has provided a partial solution for the Thai workers,
> >but unfortunately workers from the Doson factory in Indonesia are going
> >hungry while they wait on the result of a court case that could take up
to
> >two years to complete.
> >
> >IN THIS NIKEWATCH NEWS...
> >we update these two cases and bring you news of attempts to establish a
> >union in a Puma contract factory in Mexico, worker elections in two
Reebok
> >contract factories in China and a breakthrough for the Fair Wear campaign
> >in Australia.
> >
> >THIS MONTH'S ACTION:
> >Please take two minutes to copy or adapt the text at the bottom of this
> >email and send it to Footlocker. It asks the retailer to persuade Nike
and
> >Puma to respect workers rights in Indonesia and Mexico. Footlocker is
> >Nike's biggest retail customer, so Nike should care what they say.
> >
> >*****************************************************
> >CONTENTS
> >
> >1. Nike in Indonesia: Doson workers down to eating rice with salt, but
> >still Nike refuses to pay.
> >2. Nike denies it is planning to pull out of Indonesia
> >3. Nike, Adidas in Thailand I: Partial solution for redundant workers
> >4. Nike, Adidas in Thailand II: Workers given amphetamines so they could
> >work through the night.
> >5. Puma in Mexico: Leaving a factory where workers are standing up for
> >their rights
> >6. Reebok in China: Worker elections in two supplier factories
> >7. Campaign breakthrough in Australia: 34 companies sign retailers' code
> >8. Oxfam Campaign Update: War in Iraq would be a humanitarian disaster
> >9. Send a protest email to Footlocker, Nike's biggest retailer
> >
> >*****************************************************
> >1.  Nike in Indonesia: Doson workers down to eating rice with salt, but
> >still Nike refuses to pay.
> >
> >Last month Oxfam Community Aid Abroad staff accompanied two
> >representatives of workers from the PT Doson factory, Mr. Yeheskiel
> >Prabowo and Ms. Ida Mustari, to Davos in Switzerland. Nike's CEO, Philip
> >Knight was in Davos for the World Economic Forum meeting and was invited
> >to discuss Nike's labour practices with the workers in an open forum.
Nike
> >declined to send a representative, saying a current court case against
the
> >company in the US made it impossible for them to attend.
> >
> >Ida described how she had made Nike shoes at PT Doson for nine years. She
> >reported that although she and her husband had both worked full-time, and
> >put in considerable overtime, they could not afford child-care. She said
> >they were forced by their poverty to send their two children to live with
> >Ida's parents in Sumatra, 36 hours travel away. Ida and her husband only
> >saw their children once per year, for four days during the annual lebaran
> >religious holiday.
> >
> >Nike, the factory's only customer, ceased its orders in September last
> >year and the factory closed, putting 7,000 people out of work. The
factory
> >owner is only offering workers half the severance pay to which they are
> >legally entitled and the workers have had to take the factory to court.
> >Court cases like this can take up to two years to resolve.
> >
> >In her speech Ida reported that she and other workers cannot afford to
> >keep contributing to the ongoing legal fees needed for the court case.
She
> >said that they are having to borrow money to meet their basic needs while
> >they look for other work. Mr. Djoko, the leader of the union branch in
the
> >factory, recently reported to the Jakarta Post that workers were down to
> >eating rice with salt in order to survive.
> >
> >Nike is insisting that PT Doson is an independent business and that Nike
> >has no responsibility to pay workers their severance pay.
> >
> >The workers see it differently. Their union points out that Nike profited
> >from the labour of workers at the factory for eleven and a half years.
> >They argue that Nike therefore has a moral responsibility to help them
> >now. If the Doson factory had been a Nike subsiduary, Nike would be
> >legally obliged to pay the workers what they are owed. Nike's system of
> >contracting out all its production should not excuse Nike from
> >responsibility for ensuring that workers' legal rights are respected.
> >
> >You can find the speeches that Ida and Prabowo made in Davos at the
bottom
> >of the following web page: www.evb.ch/nikewatch.htm
> >
> >Please take two minutes to support workers at PT Doson by copying the
text
> >at the end of this email and emailing it to Footlocker, Nike's biggest
> >retailer.
> >
> >*****************************************************
> >2. Nike denies pulling out of Indonesia.
> >
> >One of Oxfam Community Aid Abroad's concerns has been that the closure of
> >the PT Doson factory might have signaled the beginning of a mass
> >relocation of production by Nike and its competitors from Indonesia to
> >countries where independent unions are illegal.
> >
> >In response to questions from ourselves and others, Nike and its main
> >competitors, Reebok and Adidas, have restated their current commitment to
> >staying in Indonesia.
> >
> >On 22 November The Jakarta Post quoted Nike Indonesia's General Manager
> >Jeff DuMont as saying:
> >
> >"Any statement indicating that Nike is significantly reducing orders to
> >Indonesia is incorrect.... Our commitment is demonstrated by our ongoing
> >work with 47 contract footwear, apparel and equipment contract factory
> >groups in Indonesia, which employ over 120,000 people. While business
> >reality and global conditions do impact our business practices, Nike is
> >looking forward to a positive future in Indonesia."
> >
> >We hope this commitment is maintained. Read Oxfam Community Aid Abroad's
> >statement on this at
> www.caa.org.au/campaigns/nike/news/nikeinindonesia.html
> >
> >*****************************************************
> >3. Nike, Adidas in Thailand I: Thai government provides a partial
solution
> >for redundant workers.
> >
> >Workers from another Nike supplier, the Bed and Bath Prestige Company in
> >Bangkok, have also been campaigning to receive their severance pay. The
> >factory closed in October 2002 when the factory's owner disappeared with
> >the company's profits, owing workers both back pay and severance pay.
> >
> >As in the Doson case, Nike and the factory's other buyerswhich included
> >Adidas and Levi'srefused to pay workers their entitlements. Three hundred
> >and fifty of the workers held a three-month live-in protest at the Thai
> >Ministry of Labour Building in Bangkok between November and January,
> >relying on food donations from local markets.
> >
> >In November and December Oxfam Community Aid Abroad staff had the
> >opportunity to meet workers involved in the three-month protest. Their
> >level of organisation was impressive and we were inspired by their
> >determination and courage.
> >
> >Following international support for the workers, including from members
of
> >this list, Nike did meet with the workers. Although Nike was not willing
> >to contribute to paying workers what they were owed, the company did
agree
> >to encourage the Thai government to resolve the issue.
> >
> >On 31 January, the 171 workers still involved in the demonstration agreed
> >to take a package offered by the Thai Ministry of Labour. Excluding
> >emergency assistance, it meant that 30% of workers received 80% of the
> >compensation they should have received by law, 50% received 30% and 20%
> >receive10% of their legal entitlements.
> >
> >  The Thai Labour Campaign, which has been assisting workers in their
> > campaign, has thanked NikeWatch campaigners and other international
> > organisations for their support, which assisted them to achieve this
> > partial victory.
> >
> >The workers have appointed leaders to continue to follow up on their case
> >and to pressure the government to bring their employer to trial. Sixty
> >workers from the factory are in the process of setting up their own
> >garment factory, which they will run as a workers' collective. The Thai
> >Ministry of Labour is lending them money to assist them to do this.
> >
> >*****************************************************
> >4. Nike, Adidas in Thailand II: Workers given amphetamines to help them
> >work through the night.
> >
> >Workers from the Bed and Bath factory described to Oxfam Community Aid
> >Abroad staff the wages and conditions that applied when the factory was
> >running. Those conditions fell well short of the standards outlined in
the
> >codes of conduct of customers such as Nike and Adidas.
> >They described typical working days as being 12 to 13 hours long and said
> >that working hours during peak times could be as high as 110 hours per
> >week.  They reported that it was not unusual during busy times for them
to
> >be expected to work right through the night, for several nights in a row.
> >They described how the owner of the factory put amphetamines in some of
> >their drinking containers, mixed with ice, coke and other soft drinks.
> >Workers were not forced to drink from these containers, but most did so
> >because it was the only way they could work the hours being demanded of
> >them. When taking the drugs workers could work up to 48 hours until they
> >collapsed from exhaustion and needed to rest.
> >Workers were willing to work these hours because they needed the money.
> >The legal daily minimum wage in the Bangkok area is US $3.70, which they
> >reported was too low to meet one person's basic physical needs. Working
12
> >to 17 hour days, workers were able to earn between US$6.90 and US$16.20,
> >money which they needed to meet their basic needs and those of their
> >dependents.
> >There was no opportunity for them to organise and negotiate better
> >conditions. They were constantly monitored by security guards and any one
> >suspected of attempting to form a union was threatened and harassed.
> >All workers were obliged to wear a summary of Nike's code of conduct
> >around their necks, but it did them no good. The factory owner made clear
> >to workers that they would be punished if they complained about working
> >conditions to Nike representatives who visited the factory.
> >The workers' experience provides further evidence that, where a
democratic
> >trade union does not exist in a factory, an effective system for
> >monitoring factory conditions needs to involve confidential worker
> >interviews away from the factory, and confidential and accessible means
> >for workers to send complaints to genuinely independent monitors. Nike
and
> >other transnational corporations should be working with trade unions and
> >credible human rights groups to set up such a system.
> >A detailed account of an Oxfam Community Aid Abroad interview with a
> >worker from the factory can be found at:
> >http://www.caa.org.au/campaigns/nike/reports/lern.html
> >
> >*****************************************************
> >5. Puma in Mexico: Leaving a factory where workers are standing up for
> >their rights.
> >
> >The Mexican labour rights group Centro de Apoyo al Trabajador (CAT)
> >reports that the German Sportswear company Puma has cut its orders to
> >Matamoros Garment, a Mexican garment factory where workers are trying to
> >form an independent union.
> >
> >According to CAT and to the German Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), recent
> >events include:
> >
> >- 13 January 2003: 190 workers from the factory hold a one-day strike
> >because they have not been paid for three weeks. Other issues at the
> >factory include forced overtime, verbal and physical abuse and illegally
> >low wages.
> >- 16 January: The German Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) contacts Puma
> >regarding the dispute.
> >- 17 January: Puma informs the German CCC that they are looking into the
> >matter.
> >- 18 January: Factory management call together a group of employees and
> >threaten that they will lose their jobs if they do not renounce the
> >independent union, claiming that Puma will cut off orders because of
their
> >decision to organise.
> >- 18 January: Puma removes all their labels from the factory.
> >- 28 January: Puma releases a statement saying that it had decided to
> >terminate the contract on 8 October 2002 due to production delays, not
> >because of the establishment of the new union.
> >- 1 February: Puma's head of Environmental and Social Affairs visits the
> >factory and schedules meetings with all parties.
> >- 12 February: Puma writes to CAT and the German CCC claiming that in
> >recent video-taped interviews with Puma staff, workers from the factory
> >denied that they were ever forced to work overtime or that they were ever
> >subject to verbal or physical abuse. Puma restates its position that its
> >decision to cease orders was due to the factory's current inability to
> >fill orders on time. Puma indicates that it "will consider
re-establishing
> >normal business relationships with the Matamoros Garment factory once
> >matters underscoring the current difficulties are resolved to everyone's
> >satisfaction."
> >- 12 February: CAT replies, questioning Puma's methods of investigation,
> >since workers interviewed in front of a video camera and inside a factory
> >cannot speak honestly about factory conditions for fear of losing their
> >jobs. CAT urges Puma to hold confidential interviews with workers away
> >from the factory in order to discover the truth about factory conditions.
> >
> >CAT and the German CCC are calling for Puma to resume production at this
> >facility and ensure that workers are allowed to form their own union. For
> >more information on this case see the Clean Clothes Campaign website at
> ><www.cleanclothes.org/companies/puma.htm>.
> >
> >The protest email to Footlocker at the end of this email includes
> >reference to this case, please take two minutes to copy and send it.
> >
> >*****************************************************
> >6. Reebok in China: Worker elections in two supplier factories
> >
> >On December 12 the Financial Times reported that worker elections have
> >taken place at two factories supplying Reebok in China. The elections
were
> >arranged at Reebok's request.
> >
> >The Financial Times quoted Doug Cahn of Reebok as saying, "It's our hope
> >that issues can be taken up by the worker representatives. We have
> >inspections of factories, both announced and unannounced. But you just
> >don't have the assurance that things will be the same the next day.
> >Factories in China are incredibly sophisticated at finding ways to fool
> >us. The best monitors are the workers themselves."
> >
> >The Financial Times cited independent observers of one of the elections,
> >Mr Jonathan Unger and Ms Anita Chan, as saying that the newly elected
> >officials may be hampered by their inexperience, their lack of role
models
> >and the high workforce turnover. Nonetheless they see the elections as a
> >big step forward. Mr Unger and Ms Chan are academics based at the
> >Australian National University in Canberra who specialise in labour
> >conditions in China.
> >
> >Monina Wong of the Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee (HKCIC)
> >witnessed both elections. She told the Financial Times that the challenge
> >now for Reebok and the factory management is to respect the elected
> >workers' role as independent representatives of workers' interests. HKCIC
> >has a long and credible history of researching labour issues in China.
> >
> >*****************************************************
> >7. Campaign breakthrough in Australia: 34 companies sign retailers code.
> >
> >In November last year we reported that the Australian Retailers
> >Association had signed a new Retailer Code with the Textile Clothing and
> >Footwear Union of Australia, covering the production of clothes made in
> >Australia. At that stage it wasn't clear how many individual retailers
> >would sign onto the code.
> >
> >We are pleased to report that 34 retailers have now signed the code,
> >including Myer/Grace Bros, Kmart, Target, Cue, David Jones and Big W.
> >
> >Retailers who sign on to the Code commit to a much higher level of
> >transparency regarding their whole supply chain through to those who
> >actually make their Australian-made clothes.  In some cases the retailers
> >must also provide the union with information on the price they paid. The
> >Code also assists the union to take steps to ensure that workers who make
> >those clothes are paid decent wages and have decent conditions.
> >
> >Fair Wear is encouraging Australians to buy from retailers that have
> >signed the code. Check out Fair Wear's website at
> >www.awatw.org.au/fairwear/news/wheretoshop.html for a list of those
> >companies. Note that at this stage the Code only applies to clothes made
> >in Australia.
> >
> >*****************************************************
> >8. Oxfam Campaign Update: War in Iraq would be a humanitarian disaster.
> >
> >NikeWatch is part of Oxfam Community Aid Abroad's wider campaign and
> >advocacy work. Oxfam believes that military action on Iraq could trigger
a
> >major humanitarian crisis, jeopardising the lives of millions of women,
> >children and men who are already suffering from a lack of food and access
> >to clean water. See Oxfam Community Aid Abroad's site - www.caa.org.au -
> >for details of Oxfam's policy on war with Iraq.
> >
> >*****************************************************
> >9. Send a protest email to Footlocker, Nike's biggest retailer.
> >
> >Please copy or adapt the text below and email it to the following email
> >addresses: customer_service at footlocker.com, help at footlocker-europe.com
> >
> >Please cc the email to: timc at sydney.caa.org.au,
> >continuous.improvement at nike.com
> >
> >Mr. Matthew D. Serra
> >President and Chief Executive Officer
> >  Footlocker Inc.
> >
> >Dear Mr. Matthew D. Serra,
> >
> >As your company is one of the world's largest sportswear retailers, I am
> >writing to urgently seek your support for workers from two sportswear
> >factories. One was in Indonesia, the other is in Mexico.
> >
> >The PT Doson factory in Indonesia produced sportshoes for Nike for eleven
> >and a half years. In September 2002 Nike stopped ordering from the
factory
> >and it closed, putting 7,000 people out of work.
> >
> >The factory's owner is refusing to pay workers the severance pay required
> >by the Indonesian government. The workers have taken the factory to
court,
> >but the case could take up to two years to complete. Meanwhile workers
are
> >living off credit while they seek other work. Press reports indicate that
> >many of the workers are going hungry, with meals consisting of little
more
> >than rice with salt.
> >
> >Please urgently call Nike's attention to this case and urge the company
to
> >pay workers what they are owed. Nike's system of contracting out all its
> >production should not excuse Nike from responsibility for ensuring that
> >the legal rights of the workers who make its goods are respected. This
> >includes their right to severance pay when a factory closes, particular
> >when the factory closes as a result of Nike cutting its orders.
> >
> >Puma was a customer at the Matamoros Garment factory in Mexico from July
> >2002 until January 2003. A Mexican labour rights group reports that
> >conditions at the factory were poor, including illegally low wages,
forced
> >overtime and verbal abuse.  Puma recently ceased ordering from the
> >factory, just as workers started to establish an independent union.
> >
> >According to Puma this was because the factory is currently unable to
meet
> >production deadlines. The factory owner has told workers that Puma left
> >because the workers organised a union and held a short strike for better
> >wages and conditions.
> >
> >Genuine respect and promotion of workers' right to form and join
> >democratic trade unions is the most powerful way that companies can
> >prevent exploitation in the production of their goods.
> >
> >Please urge Puma to restart ordering from the Matamoros Garment factory
> >and to work with the factory to ensure that workers' trade union rights
> >are respected.
> >
> >As a major sportswear retailer your company has considerable influence
> >over Nike, Puma and other sportswear companies. Consumers do not want to
> >buy goods made in sweatshops. I look forward to hearing that you have
used
> >your influence to persuade these companies to do the right thing in these
> >cases.
> >
> >Sincerely,
> >
> >
> >***********************************************************
> >Thanks to Elizabeth Saunders for her assistance in preparing this update!
> >***********************************************************
> >
> >Tim Connor
> >Coordinator, NikeWatch
> >Oxfam Community Aid Abroad
> >Level 3, 25 Coopers Street
> >Surry Hills NSW 2010, AUSTRALIA
> >Phone: 61 (0)2 9387 5410        Fax: 61 (0)2 9280 3426
> >Mobile: 61 (0)403 339 578
> >NikeWatch Site - http://www.caa.org.au/campaigns/nike/
> >
> >
> >Tim Connor
> >Phone: 61 (0)403 339 578
> >
> >
> >
> >---------------------------------------------------------------------
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> >
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> >stop the exploitation of workers making Nikes.
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> >
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> >To subscribe, email <nikewatch-news-subscribe at lists.caa.org.au>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Tim Connor
> >Phone: 61 (0)403 339 578
> >
> >
>
>
> Clean Clothes Campaign
> PO Box 11584
> 1001 GN Amsterdam
> The Netherlands
> tel: + 31 20 4122785
> fax: + 31 20 4122786
> e-mail:ccc at xs4all.nl
> http://www.cleanclothes.org
>
>
>