May 2008 Edition


 
Dear NikeWatch Supporter

This month we tell you how you can make your own community sweatshop-free. We report on some great activism in Europe around sportswear - a Scottish community is standing up for workers rights while French activists are calling on adidas to give a fair deal to Indonesian workers. Lastly, we update you on the I am not a sweatshop bag.

IN THIS EDITION
Scottish tell sportsbrands to respect worker rights
French stand up to adidas
Exclusive and a little elusive: I am not a sweatshop bag
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Scottish tell sportsbrands to respect worker rights

 
A Scottish community is calling on sportswear brands to respect sportswear workers rights. 

On the 23rd of May, Renfrewshire Council passed a motion condemning exploitation of workers by multinational companies and calling on individuals to support Oxfam’s campaigning to improve the conditions of sportswear workers. The council, which is already a Fair Trade Local Authority, will now write to sportswear manufacturers to express their support for workers rights.

Make your own community Sweatshop Free
In Australia you can encourage your own council to become a FairWear council. This includes ensuring your council purchases uniforms and other apparel that is accredited to the NoSweatShop Label.

There is a step by step guide on the FairWear Campaign website which includes a ready-made
Motion for council endorsement of Fair Wear

A group of Scottish Fair Trade activists have been pushing the issue of public sector procurement and cleaner supply chains since the 2004 Athens Olympics campaign which highlighted labour rights violations in sportswear supplier factories. The Scottish group have formed the Scottish Fair Trade Forum which seeks to raise and maintain awareness of fair trade.

Scotland is currently trying to become the first ever Fair Trade Nation. For a report exploring this initiative see  Fairtrade commitment doubts (short BBC audio news)


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French stand up to adidas

Peuples Solidaires - the French affiliate of the Clean Clothes Campaign- have launched a popular campaign in support of Indonesian workers, previously employed at the Spotec and Dong Joe factories. These factories closed suddenly when adidas withdrew their orders at the end of 2006. 

700 people have emailed the Spotec and Dong Joe workers in the past 4 weeks letting them know that they support the workers' struggle and that they have asked adidas to take immediate action to implement the workers concerns.

Latest Update on adidas, Ching Luh the Spotec/Dong Joe workers
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Exclusive and a little elusive: I am not a sweatshop bag

 
Last month we were excited to introduce you to the I am not a sweatshop bag, made by Solidarity, a Thai worker-run cooperative.

We told you that the bags were available in shops around Australia. Supporters reported back to us that some shops were not yet stocking the bags.

Now – a couple of weeks later - the major Australian Oxfam shops do have the bag in stock. So if you were discouraged the first time- please don’t hesitate to go to your nearest shop and buy your very own bag. Alternatively you can buy a bag online.

Be quick because stocks are limited and the bag is selling fast!

Find your nearest Oxfam shop at 22 Locations around Australia
Buy online
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