Strike hits Nike Vietnam factory

[Doctor Cynic]

Source: BBC

More than 20,000 workers at a factory in Vietnam that makes shoes for Nike have gone on strike demanding higher pay to cope with rising inflation.

The average monthly salary at the Taiwanese-owned plant is about $59 (£30), 14% more than the minimum wage.

The workers, who produce about 12% of the 75 million pairs of shoes made for Nike in Vietnam a year, want a 20% pay rise and better canteen lunches.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7324242.stm

[medeak]

1. New Balance made in the USA

One reason I wear them besides they fit me the best!

[wake.up.america]

4. Oregon made - Plus various widths - right?

[medeak]

6. 5 factories in US & privately owned

website says...

[H8fascistcons]

10. Good On You!!!!

Plus the shoe company SAS, made in Texas. There is absolutely no reason to buy shoes from Nike or any other foreign company. Put Americans to work!!!!! Go to American clothing.com, all union made jeans, shirts, pants, jackets......

[H8fascistcons]

11. WWW.allamericanclothing

Sorry forgot the All...

[medeak]

14. cool! n/t

[RussBLib]

19. Strike settled

Saw a headling that the strike was settled, and workers were granted an extra $6/MONTH. But now I can't find the story. Doesn't sound like much, to an American. I hope it's a meaningful amount to the Vietnamese.

And my New Balance shows say quite prominently on the inside, MADE IN CHINA.

[ToeBot]

21. Not every model is made in the USA, and of those that claim to be,

not 100% of the manufacture takes place in this country.

[brentspeak]

2. Let's hope we see more of this

[saigon68]

7. Nike=Child Slave Labor

[dropkickpa]

3. These people earn $59/month

And Nike charges $100 a pair. How many pairs of shoes a day passthrough their hands? Good for them!

[joeglow3]

16. A bit misleading

Granted I hate any company that ships jobs overseas. That said, shoe companies historically spend more on advertising than any other cost. Thus, it is a bit misleading to just look at one person's salary and the final product's price.

Sorry, just the nerdy CPA in me.

Edited for financial info.:

Nike's SG&A costs are about 33% of gross income:

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=NKE

[dropkickpa]

18. Oh, I know

but it's still a bit ridiculous that it would take 2 months of work for them to afford one pair of the shoes. If they received a fairer wage, manufacturing in this country could be more competitive.

[joeglow3]

20. Now THAT I agree with n/t

[redqueen]

5. Yes!

Workers of the world need to unite... enough of this fatcat BS.

[Phred42]

8. Good - Maybe Knight will decide to be an AEMERICAN again and

take Moore up on his Offer for Flint

[pattmarty]

9. Tell that to "that liberal" CEO of Nike.

[otherlander]

12. k&r

Doesn't say if they were unionized or not, but it would be great if people were able to start successfully organizing and taking direct action even without the backing of nationwide unions.

[MadMaddie]

13. That's what happens when workers in poor countries understand

that they actually hold the power.

Good, greedy American companies who have taken American jobs overseas for cheap labor are getting a taste of their own medicine.

[DCKit]

15. If they close the plant, will the elementary schools be able to absorb all the workers? n/t

[superconnected]

17. rofl.

Probably fair questions though.