Labor Alerts: a service of Campaign for Labor Rights

NIKE UNION ORGANIZER REINSTATED!

posted January 15, 2000

In this alert:

• Nike union organizer Haryanto reinstated!
• Action request
• Join the Rapid Action Network

NIKE UNION ORGANIZER HARYANTO REINSTATED!

After an outpouring of international pressure and a 10-state speaking tour in the United States, Nike union organizer Haryanto has been reinstated at the PT Lintas shoe factory in Indonesia. Haryanto is an officer in the Perbupas union federation representing shoe and garment workers in a number of Nike factories in Indonesia. He remains committed to organizing support for Perbupas at the Lintas factory.

Haryanto's reinstatement represents far more than a victory for one worker. It is the first step forward in a worker-empowerment strategy outlined by Campaign for Labor Rights last summer.

The next step is to win reinstatement for four other organizers fired from their jobs at Lintas. Their names have been provided by Perbupas and by Sisbikum, an Indonesian non-governmental organization which works closely with Perbupas. International supporters are awaiting the case histories on their firing before gearing up for their reinstatement.

Assuming that efforts to win reinstatement for the other four organizers bear fruit, the next steps with regard to the Lintas factory will be:

• Monitoring the situation and organizing international pressure if Perbupas organizers and members face harassment or discriminatory treatment.
• Pressuring Nike and Lintas management to engage in good-faith collective bargaining once the union has had an opportunity to establish an effective presence in the factory.

Sources close to Nike report that Nike representatives believe that respecting freedom of association (the right to engage in union activities - a principle to which Nike is committed as a member of the Fair Labor Association) "doesn't mean that we have to deal with the union." It is likely that considerable international pressure will be needed in order to bring Nike to the bargaining table.

PT Lintas is one of the factories owned by PT Astra Graphia. Negotiations are underway for Astra to sell its footwear business for U.S. $11.5 million to Dimension S. Ltd., an investor about whom little is known. Also unknown are the implications of the new ownership for the union.

Thanks to all of you who supported Haryanto's speaking tour and who put your names to the sign-on letter to Nike seeking his reinstatement. Your continuing efforts will be crucial in carrying out the rest of the strategy outlined above. One way that local groups can continue to exert pressure when needed is through joining the Rapid Action Network. (See information later in this alert.)

Thanks also to Tim Connor, director of the Nike Watch program at Community Aid Abroad in Australia. Connor tirelessly carried out behind-the-scenes discussions with Nike representatives until Haryanto's reinstatement was accomplished. He also served as an invaluable communications link between Campaign for Labor Rights in the U.S. and Perbupas and Sisbikum in Indonesia.

ACTION REQUEST

Please copy, sign and send the following letter to Nike. Please also send the following information (not this entire alert!) to Campaign for Labor Rights at clr@clrlabor.org:

I have sent a letter to Nike in response to the January 15 alert.
NAME:
CITY/STATE (or COUNTRY if outside U.S.):
ORGANIZATION (if listed with your signature to the letter):

Dear Mr. Knight:

I was happy to learn that sources in Indonesia have confirmed the reinstatement of Haryanto, an organizer for the Perbupas union, at the PT Lintas shoe factory, which produces for Nike. I understand that Nike representatives played a key role in achieving his reinstatement at the factory. This is exactly the kind of behavior which can help Nike to restore its credibility on labor rights issues.

Human rights advocates who maintained communications with Nike around Haryanto's case soon will be providing company representatives with a list of four other union organizers whose employment at Perbupas was terminated. They also will provide documentation supporting the Perbupas claim that these organizers were fired because of their union activities.

Nike did the right thing in supporting Haryanto's reinstatement. Nike should continue to do the right thing by seeing to the reinstatement of the other four organizers mentioned above. Ending discriminatory behavior toward organizers, respecting freedom of association and engaging in good-faith collective bargaining with independent trade unions are key ingredients of fair labor practices. I appreciate that such actions are not easy for management. However, moving forward with this plan can only add to Nike's credit.

I hope soon to hear more good news from the human rights advocates who promoted Haryanto's case and who are continuing to monitor the situation at the PT Lintas factory.

With sincere wishes for justice,

Name:
City/State (or Country if outside U.S.):
Organization (if applicable):

JOIN THE RAPID ACTION NETWORK

to support union struggles in sweatshops

Campaign for Labor Rights has established a Rapid Action Network. We invite you to join other local organizations all across the U.S. - solidarity, faith-based, student, labor, peace & justice - who stand ready to mobilize when asked by sweatshop union activists.

Participating organizations agree to mobilize in their communities with as little as 14 days notice (more notice whenever we can manage it) at least 6 out of 10 times when asked during the course of the year. The great majority of the mobilizations are leafleting actions, usually at retail outlets. These mobilizations are in support of sweatshop union struggles around the world and here at home.

We expect the first mobilization of the Rapid Action Network to take place in early March of 2000. Stayed tuned for more news!!!

To join, simply fill out the following:

YES! We would like to join the Rapid Action Network!

Name of organization:
Complete postal address:
Name of primary contact person:
    Daytime phone:
    Evening/weekend phone:
    Fax (if this applies):
    Email (if this applies):
Name of back-up contact person:
    Daytime phone:
    Evening/weekend phone:
    Fax (if this applies):
    Email (if this applies):

and send it to:

For more information, call:
National coordinator Trim Bissell (202) 232-5002
Midwest regional Emily LaBarbera-Twarog (202) 232-5002
Mid-Atlantic regional coordinator Melinda St. Louis (202) 232-5002

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