Nearly 20 members of the Human Rights Alliance led a protest Wednesday in front of the University Bookstore, carrying picket signs and answering students’ questions about the continuing labor dispute at a Nike-contracted garment factory that makes University apparel.
According to members of the HRA, the factory workers took part in a strike that started Jan. 8 at the Korean-owned Kukdong International-Mexico factory, about 65 miles southeast of Mexico City.
Students at the rally rolled out banners and carried signs calling for support of the workers and increased education on worker rights issues.
Reports from the Worker Rights Consortium and United Students Against Sweatshops said the factory strike occurred after 20 workers were illegally fired and because of the factory’s failure to pass food inspections in the cafeteria and to pay workers all of their Christmas bonuses in accordance with Mexican labor laws.
Since the strike, workers were fired despite promises from factory management that they would be able to keep their jobs upon returning to the company.
“The management of the factory is singling out the people they think led the strike,” said Chad Sullivan, a senior and HRA member.
Ben Goldman, an HRA member and senior, said this issue hits close to home because the factory produces some licensed University apparel. Goldman said the goal of the protest was to bring awareness to the University about what is happening overseas.
Sullivan suggested that students call University President Dave Frohnmayer to ensure that the administration is aware of concerns about the labor dispute issue.
Sullivan said the WRC is organizing a fact-finding delegation to visit the factory and has invited the University to send one representative this weekend, from Jan. 20 through 22.
“The fact-finding delegation will attempt to ascertain from both sides the real situation,” Sullivan said.
Matt Dyste, University director of trademark licensing, said to his knowledge, Nike and the Fair Labor Association also have representatives en route to monitor the factory situation.
Dyste said until reports are made from observation organizations such as Nike, the University is unable to comment on the situation.
The HRA will host a general interest meeting about the labor dispute today at 7:30 p.m. in the Ben Linder Room.