From: Bhumika Muchhala (b_muchhala@hotmail.com)
Date: Wed Oct 17 2001 - 04:59:06 EDT
>From: Tim Connor <tconnor@nlc.net.au>
>To: nike-related@lists.caa.org.au
>Subject: [nike-related] Nike's response on Mex Mode/Kuk Dong
>Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2001 11:09:11 +1000
>
>Nike is claiming that the factory is yet to implement part of the
>remediation plan from the Verite report (not clear what it is the factory
>has not yet done), but in any case implementation will not guarantee Nike
>orders - Nike will only "consider" placing orders if its code of conduct is
>met. This does not provide much incentive to the factory.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: "Manager, Vada" <Vada.Manager@nike.com>
>Sent: Fri, 12 Oct 2001 14:18:57 -0700
>To: "'janeel adams'" <janeel@altavista.net>
>Subject: RE: Mex Mode
>
>Thank you for your interest in Kukdong. Since January 2001, Nike worked
>collaboratively with a number of interested parties, including an
>independent monitoring organization; a local labor expert provided by a
>US-based labor rights organization and Mexican government officials,
>allowing us to continue to manufacture products while simultaneously
>expending enormous time and resources in addressing the labor environment
>at
>Kukdong. These collaborative efforts have created progress for the workers
>at Kukdong and have been recognized by independent third parties who wrote
>Nike saying, "I am writing to thank Nike for the positive role your company
>played in helping to ensure that workers' right to freedom of association
>at
>the Mex Mode factory, formerly known as Kukdong, in Atlixco, Mexico are
>respected. I am very please to learn that the company and the local
>Mexican
>labour board have recognized the union of the workers' choice, and that the
>new union, SITEMEX and Mexmode have successfully negotiated a collective
>agreement." In addition, Marcel Munoz, a 22-year old line supervisor and
>a
>leader of SITEMEX told a National Public Radio reporter during an interview
>in August, "We've won lots of good things. In the first place, we got our
>jobs back, which is very difficult after a strike in Mexico to return to a
>company. Secondly, last year we barely got two raises. Now, in less than
>six
>months we've had two raises and we're expecting a third. Now we have a new
>cafeteria with more options."
> After our last order for the hooded fleece product produced at Kukdong
>was
>filled in July, Nike did not place any further orders at the factory. We
>have gone on record to assure all concerned parties that once our business
>needs change and we can achieve shared values regarding Code of Conduct
>related issues with Kukdong factory management, the eventual recognized
>union and government officials, Nike will consider placing additional
>orders
>at this factory.
>
> Since August:
>
>
>· The Kukdong factory has changed its name to Mexmode.
>
>
>
>· The independent union at Mexmode, SITEMEX, has received official
>recognition by the government of Mexico and a new collective bargaining
>agreement has been signed and approved by labor authorities.
>
>
>
>· Workers who join the factory have the option of joining SITEMEX
>or
>to have an independent contract with the factory. (This is a meaningful
>step toward freedom of association, which Nike has been advocating since
>the
>beginning of the labor dispute.)
>
>
>
>· Mexmode has terminated its contract with the factory's former
>union, FROC-CROC.
>
>
>After the labor dispute began in January and the independent monitoring
>organization, Verité conducted its assessment of the factory, Nike
>developed
>a remediation plan for Kukdong/Mexmode. As of this week, there are still a
>few elements of that plan that have not been implemented by Mexmode's
>management. To reiterate, Nike will continue to monitor the situation and
>when business needs arise and we are confident that our Code of Conduct can
>be upheld, we will consider placing orders again with the factory.
>
>Thank you for your continued interest in this issue and your
>recommendations
>and suggestions. Please visit www.nikebiz.com for the latest information
>regarding Kukdong/Mexmode and our latest corporate responsibility
>initiatives.
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: janeel adams [mailto:janeel@altavista.net]
>Sent: Friday, October 12, 2001 1:34 PM
>To: vada.manager@nike.com
>Subject: Mex Mode
>
>
>October 12, 2001
>
>
>
>Vada Manager, Director, Global Issues Management
>Nike Inc
>Once Bowerman Drive
>Beaverton, OR 98003-6433
>Vada.manager@nike.com
>
>To Vada Manager:
>
>I was strongly urged by NikeWatch to express my gratitude and appreciation
>for all you have done to promote, and ensure more rights and safety at the
>Mex Mode factory (Kuk Dong) in Atlixco, Mexico, and to thank you for
>"recognizing and respecting the union of the workers' choice." But you
>know
>what, I say to hell with that. I'm not going to sit down and disguise my
>begging through big words and phrases that make you look like the good guy.
>I will beg, but I will also let you know you place. You know, you sit up
>in
>your big corporate office, and you eat like a king, play golf on the
>weekends, and make sure that the benz is washed before every Monday, not by
>you of course. There are people in this world that have problems feeding
>their children at night, who have worked three times as hard as you have,
>or
>even harder, for their entire lives. And you know this, because you are
>they're worst nightmare. You could be a savior in many familys' lives by
>NOT walking away from Mex Mode now that a fair resolution to their dispute
>has been achieved. Because what you don't realize, or maybe you don't even
>care, is that the more money you receive by stealing it away from the
>people
>in maquilas is that as you grow more powerful in wealth, more and more
>family's fall apart because they can't afford to live. I'm begging you to
>crawl out of your ivory tower, and at the VERY least, keep placing orders
>with Mex Mode. It should help sleep at night.
>
>
>Sincerely,
>Janeel Adams
>3136 60th Ave. SE
>Olympia, WA 98501
>
>--
>
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