The Nike Nine
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 11 June 2014 12:20
- Written by editor
Nike's up to its old union-busting tricks again. Nine Indonesian Nike workers have been fired for forming a union and pushing for better pay and conditions.
Tell Nike to stop crushing its employees' rights, and reinstate the Nike Nine now!
Nike says it respects its employees' rights to join a union 'without harassment, interference or retaliation.' But it fired nine workers in Indonesia for doing exactly that.
The 'Nike Nine' formed a union at Nike's Chang Shin shoe factory to negotiate for better wages, better health insurance and the payment of promised bonuses. First management ignored their demands. Then when demonstrations began, the bosses started to intimidate them. Ultimately, they were all fired, and the police were called on the group's leader, Ato.
It's ridiculous for Nike to allow its factories to crush workers' demands for decent pay and conditions. The global sportswear giant made $25.3 billion in revenue last year. It can afford to pay its employees a living wage.
After they were fired, Ato and the other eight workers set up camp outside the Chang Shin factory gates. They were soon joined by other union members for a peaceful solidarity demonstration. This was met by a heavy and intimidating security presence, including police, Indonesian military, factory security and hired thugs.
This is blatant union-busting. Nike claims it is building a 'more empowered and equitable supply chain' but the reality for its workers on the ground is disempowerment, fear and intimidation.
It's vital that we stand up for the Nike Nine, to show this hypocritical company that the world is watching, and it can no longer build its empire on exploitation.
Sign the petition and call for the Nike Nine to get their jobs back.
Thanks for all you do,
Taren, Angus, Hanna, Jon and the rest of the team at SumOfUs
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More information:
Open Letter to Nike: Reinstate the "Nike Nine", Team Sweat, 30 May 2014
Nike's code of conduct, Nike Inc website
Union Busting: Nike Labour Asks Obama for Help, Okezone.com, 30 April 2014
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