Labor activists rally against Nike deal

By Anna Clark

Daily Staff Reporter

Armed with a bullhorn and brightly markered posters, about 20 bundled-up University students marched yesterday into University President Lee Bollinger's office in the Fleming Administration Building.

Crowded close together, the group rallied in opposition to what they called Nike's breach of the seven-year equipment contract it signed last week with the University. The University announced the deal Tuesday.

Although Bollinger was not in the office, the protesters, who were members of Students Organizing for Labor and Economic Equality, the Graduate Employees Organization and the Black Student Union, rallied for half an hour.

SOLE member Jackie Bray, an LSA freshman, said the protest aimed to remind Bollinger that the contract stipulates the University may terminate the deal with Nike if the corporation doesn't resolve its labor issues within 30 days.

Protesters said labor incidents occurring at a Nike factory in Puebla, Mexico, violate the labor standards of the Collegiate Licensing Company, which are part of the agreement. They specifically called attention to police attacks on the 800 striking factory workers, physical abuse and the firing of hundreds of protesters.

"We are extremely concerned about allegations of labor violations at the Kukdong Factory in Mexico," University spokeswoman Julie Peterson said. "We have asked, and Nike has agreed, to keep the university informed of developments on a daily basis. We will look the matter over carefully in the next several days and have expressed to Nike the importance of a timely and full accounting of the situation."

Through speeches and cries, the protesters said they were also angry at Bollinger for signing the contract although it did not include the high level of labor standards agreed upon by the University's Advisory Committee on Labor Standards and Human Rights.

"Although we don't support this contract, we can use it. We fully expect to hold Bollinger to the contract he signed," Bray said.

Michigan Student Assembly Rep. Reza Breakstone, an LSA senior, held up large, laminated copies of the resolutions that MSA passed Tuesday night in support of the workers in Mexico. The assembly voted to ask the University to apply its new labor code of conduct in all areas where the production of logo goods is involved and to encourage Bollinger to terminate the contract with Nike if any alleged problems are not resolved within 30 days.

"This is common sense," Breakstone said. "We're asking the president to keep his word."

After rallying for half an hour, the protesters plastered Bollinger's office with posters of opposition and "For Sale" signs to display their feeling that the University sold out to Nike. They continued their protest on the streets as they chanted their way to Moe's Sport Shop, which sells Michigan apparel, to hand out flyers.

Those who benefit from the contract for Michigan athletic apparel disagree with the protesters' complaints. The Athletic Department has been without an apparel contract since last February, when Nike dropped out of a 1999 agreement with the University. "From the coach's standpoint in most of the sports, and for sure in hockey, we think Nike is the best company right now in terms of their product, their service and their interest in college athletics," men's hockey coach Red Berenson said. "It just makes sense to be in partnership with them. I think it's a win-win."

Berenson added that an equipment deal with a major corporation provides the University with numerous benefits. "I think the one area where Nike really helps is with the non-revenue sports, in terms of giving them some things that they wouldn't have access to otherwise," he said. "It just seems to me that there are a lot of little perks in there that make the contract good for all the sports."

SAM HOLLENSHEAD/ Daily

Erika Hrabec, secretary to University President Lee Bollinger, walks past SOLE members who briefly took over Bollinger's office yesterday in protest of the University's seven-year athletic apparel contract with Nike.