A labor dispute is currently in progress at a Nike-contracted garment factory in Atlixco, Mexico, about 65 miles southeast of Mexico City.
The factory produces some licensed University apparel.
According to reports from the Worker Rights Consortium and the United Students Against Sweatshops organization, workers at the factory are on strike over illegally fired workers, rotten food being served in the factory’s cafeteria and the company’s failure to pay Christmas bonuses.
Both Nike and the University have confirmed there is an ongoing legal dispute at the Korean-owned Kukdong International-Mexico factory, but neither institution could comment on the details of the dispute.
Agatha Schmaedick, a member of USAS and a University alumna, said the situation in Atlixco has intensified to include clashes between police and protesters. She said several of the leaders of the protest have been arrested, and others have been hospitalized with injuries received from police. Schmaedick said an unidentified college student was questioned by police who believe the student incited the protest, but Schmaedick did not know if the student attended the University.
She said USAS is mainly supporting the protesters’ demand that a Nike observer travel to Atlixco to see firsthand what the situation is there.
“I think Nike would find even their own code of conduct is violated,” she said, adding that the University’s licensing code of conduct has also likely been violated.
Schmaedick said about 800 workers went on strike Jan. 8 after a group of employees was fired when they demanded management pay their Christmas bonuses. She said a rally by protesters was then broken up by police on Friday night.
A statement released by Nike spokesman Vada Manager acknowledged there is a labor dispute at the Kukdong factory that is centered on a “dispute over catering/food contract.” Manager stated that Nike will continue to monitor the situation through a member of its “compliance team” and through its contacts in other labor-monitoring groups.
“Nike will lend its assistance through contacts with management, mediators and other parties to help to bring this matter to a peaceful resolution,” Manager stated.
Matt Dyste, University director of trademark licensing, said the factory produces clothing for several universities, including the University of Oregon.
Dyste said the University is waiting for a report from Nike observers before it will make any official comment on the situation. He added that the University understands the dispute to be over personnel issues, but does not know any details about what is happening at the factory.
“We hate to comment until we have more information,” he said.
Scott Nova, the newly hired executive director for the WRC, said the organization is aware of what is going on in the dispute through its contacts in other anti-sweatshop organizations.
Nova would not comment on the details of the dispute, but said the WRC viewed what is happening in Mexico as “a very serious situation.”
“WRC has received allegations of serious problems,” he said.
Nova joined the WRC in early December. Prior to joining the WRC, Nova served as executive director of the Preamble Center, a Washington, D.C.-based research and public policy organization.
