Tell Nike to support union factories and reopen BJ&B!

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/bjb_two?rk=T1AR1W51rrxcE

Tell Nike to support union factories and reopen BJ&B!
On Tuesday, May 8, Nike will be meeting with other stakeholders in the Dominican Republic to discuss the closure of the BJ&B factory. This facility, a well-known example of the power of worker and student organizing, recently shut down as brands cut and run from one of the few factories in the world that was not a sweatshop. Since the factory shut down, Nike has engaged in a campaign of deliberate deception, hiding the truth about the treatment of workers during the closure process, in an attempt to avoid a discussion about the real reasons for the closure: their unwillingness to support factories that demonstrate real respect for labor standards. Tuesday's meeting is an opportunity for Nike to show that they take codes of conduct seriously, by committing to put orders back into the factory and displaying true respect for workers' rights. Tell me more: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/bjb_two/explanation

I am writing to you today regarding the upcoming meeting in the Dominican Republic to discuss the closure of the BJ&B factory. Although I have been extremely discouraged by your recent unwillingness to address the labor rights violations that occurred during the closure process at the factory, I believe that Tuesday's meeting represents an opportunity to amend the mistakes that have been made and demonstrate your commitment to workers that produce your apparel.

As you know, BJ&B was the site of a major victory for university codes of conduct. Through the efforts of workers, students, universities, monitoring organizations, and the brands, significant gains were made at BJ&B, including the recognition of an independent union and a collective bargaining agreement, both of which are virtually unheard of in the free trade zones of the Dominican Republic and the garment industry as a whole.

It was our hope that Nike would support the improvements made at BJ&B, by continuing to provide the factory with a sufficient level of orders at prices high enough to account for the strides that had been made in code compliance. Instead, you have chosen to do the exact opposite, cutting and running from one of the few factories that made a genuine effort to comply with labor standards.

As if this weren't bad enough, the BJ&B management, with Nike's tacit approval, has engaged in a campaign of coercion and deception intended to deprive workers of their associational rights, which has gone unnoticed and unpunished by your company. A majority of the workforce has signed a petition denouncing the violations that took place during the closure process, and asking that the factory reopen. Many union leaders have renounced their severance agreements, stating that they were signed under duress and are not the product of true collective bargaining. Unfortunately, you have shown an unwillingness to intervene on the workers' behalf, instead ignoring their requests to reopen the factory and making no effort to undo the damage that has already been done throughout the closure process.

This upcoming meeting is an opportunity to reverse this distressing trend and show that you are willing to make a real commitment to improving workers' lives. You have an obligation to the workers who produce your apparel to attend the meeting and engage in good-faith discussions about ways to keep the factory open. If Nike expects your stated commitment to labor rights to be taken seriously and regarded as more than just an empty promise, then you must agree to do whatever it takes to make BJ&B a viable factory, including committing orders to BJ&B immediately, at prices that recognize the increased costs associated with respect for labor standards. This commitment of orders is essential if Nike's pledge to comply with codes of conduct is to be regarded with any confidence. Workers' lives depend on it.