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Let's be friendsSerious doubt cast on Russell's 'Corrective Action Plan'
Under pressure from the international boycott campaign, Fruit of the Loom subsidiary Russell release 'Corrective Action Plan'. Serious doubts are expressed by workers' rights groups as to the credibility of the plan.
Fruit of the Loom protest
In November 2008 the Workers Rights Consortium reported that Russell had closed a Honduran factory because workers formed a union and tried to put in place their first collectively bargained wages agreement with their employers. The Jerzees de Honduras factory was then suddenly closed, leaving 1,800 workers unemployed.
So far 66 US universities and 3 UK universities are boycotting Russell and Fruit of the Loom in solidarity with the Honduran workers. A motion has been submitted to the National Union of Students National Executive Committee requesting that the NUS join the boycott. But Russell have also been conducting their own spin campaign; asking universities to ignore independent workers rights monitors’ reports.
Russell Athletic, and a trade association of which the company is a member, have recently asked universities to reconsider their view of Russell’s actions in the Jerzees de Honduras factory. The industry sponsored Fair Labor Association recently circulated a matrix indicating the steps Russell has taken in this regard. But the Workers Rights Consortium have described the matrix as
Not remotely adequate to address the harm the company has done in Honduras… These violations have done enormous damage not just to the nearly two thousand employees of the factory that Russell illegally closed, but also to workers throughout the Russell supply chain in Honduras. The company’s actions have sent an unmistakable message to all Russell employees: do not try to exercise your basic rights, because if you do, you will be fired. As a result, the associational rights of Russell workers in Honduras have been effectively revoked. A right has no meaning if you cannot exercise it.
Russell is now really feeling the pressure of the university boycott campaign.
But for workers to be reinstated and receive justice the campaign must continue.
Are the clothes sold in your university shop Fruit of the Loom?
Does your student union buy Fruit of the Loom clothing for events?
Is any of your university logoed clothing made by Fruit of the Loom?
If so, get your university to boycott Fruit of the Loom and join the campaign now!
Visit the Fruit of the Loom campaign page to find out how.
Join the Facebook group
Or join the new Corporate Power campaign as a Campaign Advocate volunteer and help end unethical university procurement for good, email Jim or see our volunteers page.
