INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-INDONESIA:

OPPOSE BLACKLISTING AT ADIDAS SUPPLIERS IN INDONESIA:

The following story and appeal is from the Clean Clothes Campaign, and it concerns blacklisting of union activists at suppliers for Adidas in Indonesia.

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New jobs for unfairly dismissed union leaders in Indonesia!‏:
Call on Adidas not to discriminate against union leaders and tore-employ union officials from the PT Spotec and PT Panarub suppliers.

Support the union leaders today and write to Adidas today!

Take action now at:

http://www.cleanclothes.org/urgent/09-02-11.htm#action

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Indonesian union members are desperately looking for new jobs as they appear to have been blacklisted at Adidas suppliers due to their labour rights activism. Since the closure of the PT Spotec and PT Dong Joe factories in November 2006, seven SBGTS union leaders have unsuccessfully been searching for permanent employment at the new Adidas supplier Ching Luh. And 33 SBGTS (earlier Perbupas) union members are still without jobs after being unfairly dismissed from the PT Panarub supplier in October 2005 in response to a strike.

In its code of conduct, Adidas ensures freedom of association. In reality, however, union members frequently face discrimination at Adidas suppliers; they increasingly report difficulties finding employment with Adidas. The CCC, therefore, asks Adidas to protect union members from discrimination and to assist the SBGTS union members to find employment.We call on Adidas to ensure freedom of association and to implement the Sector Wide Solutions for the sports shoe and apparel industry in Indonesia put forward by the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) and Oxfam Australia.

Since the shut-down of the Adidas suppliers PT Spotec and PT Dong Joe in November 2006, thousands of workers have been looking for decent work. After receiving more than 3000 letters from CCC activists across Europe and Australia, Adidas has made an effort to re-employ former workers at other suppliers. Of the 10.500 workers, 1285 have found jobs with Ching Luh, which took over production at the former PT Spotec factory. Although this is promising news, about 900 workers are still waiting for their applications to be processed. This includes the seven SBGTS union leaders who filed their applications in time. They are forced to take on precarious jobs despite years of experience making shoes for Adidas.Thus, Adidas suppliers appear to be discriminating against union leaders in an attempt to stop labour organising at their factories.

Similarly, about 30 union members formerly employed at the Adidas supplier PT Panarub have been seeking re-employment after being unfairly dismissed in October 2005. They had gone on strike to ask for higher wages and better working conditions, a right according to international labour standards and the Adidas code of conduct. International campaigning by the CCC and others resulted in a reasonable severance pay-out. However, the union members have not been able to find permanent employment despite repeated attempts with Adidas suppliers. -------------------------------------------------------------

Take Action!

Please write a mail to Adidas and urge them to

* actively engage for the SBGTS union members’ re-employment;
* ensure the right to organise and freedom of association at their
suppliers;
* implement the Sector-Wide Solutions for the sports shoe and apparel
industry in Indonesia.

Take action now at:

http://www.cleanclothes.org/urgent/09-02-11.htm#action

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THE LETTER:

Please go to the link above to send the following letter to Adidas management.

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Frank Henke

Global Director of Social and Environmental Affairs

Adidas-Salomone-mail:

frank.henke@adidas.de


Dear Mr. Henke,
I am writing to express my concern regarding the ongoing discrimination against union officials and labour activists in Adidas supplier factories in Indonesia. Through the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) I learned that SBGTS union members have not been re-employed after the close-down of the PT Spotec factory in November 2006 and after being unfairly dismissed from the PT Panarub factory in October 2005.

I urge Adidas to re-employ the unfairly dismissed union leaders still looking for work. In accordance with the Adidas code of conduct, I urgently ask you to protect union members from discrimination and to ensure freedom of association at Adidas supplier factories. I urge Adidas to implement the Sector-Wide Solutions for the sports shoe and apparel industry in Indonesia put forward by the CCC and Oxfam Australia.

Since the shutdown of the PT Spotec factory in November 2006 seven SBGTS union leaders have been looking for jobs. In December 2007 they applied at the Adidas supplier Ching Luh taking over the production from PT Spotec. Despite their great work experience, they have not been given job interviews. I am concerned that they have been blacklisted. I urgently ask Adidas to ensure that their applications will be processed in a fair, transparent and speedy manner.

Similarly, about 30 union members formerly employed at the Adidas supplier PT Panarub have been waiting to be re-employed after being unfairly dismissed in October 2005. They had gone on strike to ask for higher wages and better working conditions which is their right according to international labour standards and the Adidas code of conduct. Despite various attempts with Adidas suppliers, they have not been able to find employment. Once again, I worry that they have been blacklisted. I therefore ask Adidas to assist the Panarub union leaders to find new jobs and, thus, protect union members from discrimination.

I very much hope to see Adidas take action, ensure freedom of association at its suppliers in Indonesia and implement the Sector-Wide Solutions for the sports shoe and apparel industry in Indonesia put forward by the CCC and Oxfam Australia.
Sincerely,