AP Online
01-21-2001
Nike Proposes Factory Monitor
BEAVERTON, Ore. (AP) -- In a letter to one of its chief critics, Nike Inc. proposed that a monitor be appointed to investigate a Korean-owned sweatshirt factory in Mexico where striking workers were allegedly beaten.
The Beaverton-based shoe and sports apparel giant said it has been a major customer of the Kukdong factory but has not had any orders filled there since mid-December.
The factory, located in Puebla about 70 miles southeast of Mexico City, makes apparel for several universities.
Global Exchange, a San Francisco-based human rights group, alleged last week that on Jan. 11, about 200 state police officers beat and dragged away some of the 850 employees occupying the grounds to protest the firing of five workers.
The fired employees had led worker unrest over poor cafeteria food and low wages, about $30 for a 45-hour week, Global Exchange said.
The Nike letter, signed by Dusty Kidd, vice president of corporate responsibility, was sent Saturday to the Worker Rights Consortium, a New York-based group of students and universities aligned with labor unions and other social activist groups demanding that Nike improve conditions for overseas workers.
Vada Manager, director of global issues management for Nike, said Sunday that members of the WRC have requested to visit the Kukdong factory Monday and said the company would not discourage that visit.
But he said Nike officials believe fellow buyers, the Kukdong management, the WRC and the Fair Labor Association -- another monitoring group favored by Nike -- should agree on an accredited monitor to conduct a full, independent investigation of the alleged labor compliance violations.
``An objective report coupled with an agreed upon monitor, will be the only method to serve the interests of all the parties -- most importantly, the workers at the factory,'' the letter said.
In the letter, Nike said 500 of the approximately 800 workers are now back at work and that the factory has made arrangements for the others to return to work or collect severance pay in accordance with Mexican labor law.
Beaverton-based Nike been the target of frequent criticism over wages and working conditions in the factories of its subcontractors, mostly in Asia.
The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
Copyright 2001 The Associated Press All Rights Reserved
