00-06-06, David vs Goliath NIKE in COURT in Australia

00-06-09, Victory for TCFUA and Nike workers

MELBOURNE ACTION Federal Court corner William and Latrobe Streets. Tuesday 930am 6/6/2000 SYDNEY ACTION The Nike Shop 413George Street. Tuesday, 12.30pm 6/6/00

The Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia, a small union representing the most vulnerable of Australia's workers is prosecuting the global corporation Nike in the Federal Court. At last Nike is in Court after years of concern by International Church, Community and Union groups about the way Nike treats their workers around the world.

Nike's appearance in the Federal Court in Melbourne on Tuesday 6th June marks the first time that this company has been called to account for its labour practices in a Court anywhere in the world.

Former Nike Worldwide Director of Advertising, Scott Bedbury says, "they (Nike) underestimated what it means to be a brand consumers trust. Branding may not be where your corporate headquarters are... It's how your company treats its Employees. "

Pamela Curr of FairWear says " Nike's treatment of workers both in Australia and overseas is the issue. Nike has an appalling record in the lowest wage countries in the world. Here in Australia we are trying to eliminate the notorious exploitation in the clothing industry with a voluntary industry Code. FairWear asks Nike as an Olympic sponsor to lift their game, Just Do It and sign the Australian Homeworker's Code of Practice." CONTACT Melbourne FairWear Pamela Curr 0417517075 Email fairwear@vic.uca.org.au

Sydney FairWear Julia Murray 0403128013

00-06-09, Victory for TCFUA and Nike workers

The court case against Nike on Tuesday went well, with Nike admitting fault and settling with the Australian clothing union (TCFUA). Unfortunately Nike is still refusing to sign the Homeworkers' code of practice in Australia, which requires companies to open their production process in Australia up to scrutiny to ensure that no homeworkers are being exploited (Reebok and Adidas and 120 other companies have signed). There is a great article in the Melbourne Herald Sun (Australia's biggest selling paper) today by Jill Singer urging Nike to sign up to that code ("Sign up to the No Sweat Code, Nike. Just do it"). The article also includes information about Nike Sweatshops in China. This is fantastic publicity for the Nike issue in Australia and a fitting reward for Annie Delanie and Pamela Curr and all at the TCFUA and Fairwear who have been putting so much work in.

This is from Pamela:

A Victory of Right over Might.
Nike Admits Guilt and Pays the Penalty

Nike appeared in the Federal Court in Melbourne for the first time anywhere in the world. They agreed that they had failed to comply with the Clothing Trades Award - Australian labour laws for clothing workers, and had committed breaches and agreed to pay the penalty of $5000 per breach amounting to $15,000.

"This is a victory for clothing workers. Nike is now on record in the Federal Court of Australia as being guilty for these Award breaches. All the PR speak in the world can not change the fact that Nike's admission of guilt is on record" said Pamela Curr of FairWear.

Curr continued, " This is only Round One for FairWear. We will not rest until Nike join the 120 other companies who have signed the Homeworkers Code of Practice. These global corporations must be accountable for their labour practices. Just as the abolitionists fought the long hard fight against slavery last century, we will continue to fight for the day when the terrible exploitation of clothing workers around the world is no more "

Contact Pamela Curr Coordinator of FairWear 0417517075