Campaign targets Nike

Issue 

Campaign targets Nike

BY MARGARITA WINDISCH

MELBOURNE — Activists unfurled a banner with the message "Nike slavery: Just stop it" over busy Hoddle Street here on April 18, launching a planned eight-week campaign against the clothing and footwear giant. Others sought to present Nike Australia's CEO, Mel Sutton, with a letter of protest at the company's Abbotsford headquarters.

The campaign is being run by Fairwear, an initiative by community activists and the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA) to fight the exploitation of home-based textile workers.

The protest letter was signed by over 30 international organisations and calls on Nike to sign the Australian Homeworkers Code of Practice and to pay a living wage to its workers in Indonesia, Vietnam and elsewhere.

Nike faces legal charges on June 6 for alleged breaches of the clothing award's contracting and outworkers arrangements.

According to Fairwear coordinator Pam Curr, "In the next eight weeks, we will make Nike an example to other leading retailers; they must join the industry initiatives to stop exploitation of outworkers".

"Fairwear is here to remind Nike that this giant corporation not only sells the 'spirit of sport and fitness' but is selling a product made by human labour", Curr said. "They must recognise that workers are not virtual but real and have real needs for food, clothing and housing."

The protesters were denied entry to the building's foyer to hand over their letter, which was eventually delivered to two Nike representatives in the car park outside. Sutton refused to accept the letter personally.

To get involved in the Fairwear campaign, contact Pam Curr on 0417 517075.

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