In the News

Nike on the run after Coke's cave-in

The Times
04/23/2005

By Burhan Wazir

THE anti-globalisation movement that brought violent protests to the streets of Seattle and Genoa is claiming victory in its battle against Nike sportswear after switching to more peaceful tactics.

The campaigners -a motley coalition of students, young "professionals of conscience" and seasoned anti-capitalists -whipped up worldwide protest on the internet over Nike's use of Third-World sweatshops. Now the company has bowed to the pressure and agreed to publish details of the 700 contracted factories it uses.

Why ethical sourcing means show and tell

Financial Times
04/22/2005

By Lauren Foster and Alexandra Harney

Factory managers in China are becoming increasingly sophisticated at

falsifying worker time cards and payroll documents to disguise

irregularities including underpayment, excessive hours and inadequate health

and safety provision. Auditors estimate that more than half of factories

they see in China are forging some of their records - meaning that many of

the international companies that source from China are learning less about

the actual working conditions in the factories they use, even as they step

Co-op gets 'Union Made'

The Daily Campus - News (UConn)
04/21/2005

By Rob Barry

A new "Union Made" area in the UConn Co-op opened April 13 after several months of negotiations between the Coalition for a Sweat Free UConn (CSFU) and Co-op management. Patrons are guaranteed that any Union Made merchandise purchased has been manufactured under fair labor conditions as laid out by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

"This is obviously an issue of interest to the students," said William Simpson, president and general manager of the Co-op. "We want to be in line with the sensibilities of the student body."

The ethical revolution sweeping through the world's sweatshops

The Independent (UK)
04/16/2005

By Maxine Frith, Social Affairs Correspondent

They are the global brands that have raked in multimillion-pound profits on the back of sweatshop labour in developing countries.

But after a decade of denying any wrongdoing, companies such as Nike and Gap are now admitting that their workers have been exploited and abused, and have pledged to improve the conditions of the millions of people who are paid a few pence a day to make their top-selling goods.

Nike disclosure takes extra step

Globe and Mail
04/13/2005

By Stephanie Kang

Nike Inc. today will release a corporate responsibility report listing more than 700 contract factories around the world that manufacture its footwear, apparel and equipment, a broad step toward workplace transparency by a company that has long been hounded by allegations it uses sweatshops.

4 Killed in Bangladesh Factory Collapse

Associated Press
04/11/2005

By Julhas Alam

SAVAR, Bangladesh (AP) - A nine-story garment factory collapsed after a boiler exploded early Monday, killing at least four people and trapping at least 200 others in the rubble, police and rescue workers said.

At least 300 people - many of them women - were in the sweater-making factory at the time of the disaster in this industrial town about 20 miles northwest of the capital, Dhaka, police said.

A Wal-Mart Legend's Trail of Deceit

Wall Street Journal
04/08/2005

Mr. Coughlin Told Others Bogus Expenses Hid Plot Against Unions

Retailer Disputes His Claim

By James Bandler and Ann Zimmerman

Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Last November, Thomas M. Coughlin, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s vice chairman, approached a lieutenant with an unusual request. He wanted Jared Bowen to approve around $2,000 in expense payments without any receipts.

Mr. Bowen, then a 31-year-old vice president, recalls that Mr. Coughlin briefly mentioned the money had been used for a "union project."

Central American Labor Rights and CAFTA on Lou Dobbs

Lou Dobbs Tonight
04/05/2005

DOBBS: And why our government asked for a report on Central American Free Trade Agreement countries labor conditions and why they now refuse to release that report. We'll have that story next.

And one congressman who's introduced legislation to deny citizenship to so-called anchor babies, the children of illegal aliens, he's our guest here next.

Stay with us.

On Eve of CAFTA Debate

INTERNATIONAL LABOR RIGHTS FUND Press Release
04/05/2005

CONTACT: Bama Athreya

(703) 328-1964

On Eve of CAFTA Debate

NEW STUDY SHOWS PATTERN OF LABOR RIGHTS VIOLATIONS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AMERICA

US Dept. of Labor Continues to Suppress Similar Study by Labor Rights Watchdog

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