Nike, rivals accused of labor violations

[dArKeR]

WATCHDOG: A report by the Fair Labor Association uncovered a wide range of problems at factories, including monthly pregnancy screenings of female employees

AP , PORTLAND, OREGON
Sunday, Aug 29, 2004,Page 11

Women applying for work in one of the factories under contract with Nike Inc in China say they were made to take a pregnancy test and were not hired if the test came back positive, according to a study of factory conditions overseas.

Other violations at Nike factories abroad include verbal abuse, unaccounted overtime, illegal wage deductions, missing fire extinguishers, dirty toilets and inadequate lighting, the study found.

But the conditions are similar to those found at factories of other companies that have agreed to be monitored, said officials with the Fair Labor Association, which published its report after auditing 39 Nike factories last year.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2004/08/29/2003200754

[AP]

1. Which is why you should buy the BLACKSPOT sneaker:

Today, a handful of mega corporations generate a commercial, pseudo 'culture' from the top down. Nike is the undisputed champion of logo culture, its swoosh an iconic symbol of global cool. Despite this, Phil Knight flies the flag of a fading empire. His swoosh has been hurt by years of "brand damage" as activists and culture jammers fight back against his mindfuck marketing and dirty sweatshop labor. Now it's time to rethink the cool!


The final challenge: We take on Phil and beat him at his own game. We turn the shoes we wear into a counter branding game. The swoosh versus the anti-swoosh. Which side are you on?


The Blackspot sneaker is a shoe and a message and a vision of the future -- the world's first global anti-brand. Join us in this quest to create an authentic non-corporate cool and reassert consumer sovereignty over capitalism.

The Factory:

The Blackspot sneaker factory is located in a rural region of Portugal, in an area steeped in 400 years of shoe-making tradition. The factory has been owned and operated by the same family for three generations. The owners have a reputation for being excellent employers. Although many of the employees in the factory have cars, others are often seen walking home through vineyards and olive groves during the course of the work day to enjoy their 1 1/2 hour lunch break, waving to bosses and neighbors as they pass. Felgueiras is a friendly place. There is almost no crime. Many who live there have lived there all their lives.



http://www.adbusters.org/metas/corpo/blackspotsneaker/home.html

[madrchsod]

2. Nike just had a lawsuit

filed against for racial discrimination in their Chicago flagship store..opps, not very good labor relations in the town that some famous basketball star made nike billions

[AP]

5. another kick for the anti-Nike sneaker

[Toucano]

3. I'm shocked! (not) n/t

[AP]

4. kick