CUPE ALBERTA DIVISION ENDORSES NO NIKE CAMPAIGN 1997

Lethbridge, Alberta
March 22/97

Over two hundred delegates at the annual convention of the Alberta Division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) held in Lethbridge Alberta March 20-22, unanimously endorsed the NO Nike campaign.

The delegates approved a resolution that would see CUPE locals distribute information on Nike and its corporate practices of using sweatshops, child labour, anti-union attacks and human rights violations. The resolution was brought forward by CUPE Local 474, a union local that has spearheaded the Nike Campaign in Edmonton.

Delegates were advised to monitor Nike corporate sponsorship and links with local school boards and municipalities. Nikes recent take over of Bauer Canada Inc., the largest hockey equipment manufacturer in the world was also discussed. Nike's take over the Canadian company threatens unionized jobs Local 474 member Eugene Plawiuk, told delegates. Plawiuk also heads the Edmonton Nike Campaign group: Citizens Concerned About Nike.

"Nikes take over of Bauer the only unionized workers that Nike has means that Nike has access under NAFTA to the 'intellectual property' of Bauer. This allows Nike to begin transferring manufacturing knowledge out of Bauer. If Nike follows its historical pattern it will gut Bauer and move its production off shore or to Right To Work states." Plawiuk told delegates.

Plawiuk compared Nikes use of sweatshops and Korean sub contractors in Southeast Asia and the Asian Pacific with contracting out struggles workers in CUPE face.

"Our members come from many of these countries where Nike has moved too. Their struggle is no different then ours, its a fight against contracting out and the use of contract labour." Plawiuk told the delegates. Plawiuk also sits on CUPE Alberta's International Solidarity Committee.

CUPE Alberta represents 28,000 public sector workers in hospitals, schools and municipal services in Alberta. CUPE is the largest union in Canada representing over 350,000 public sector workers.

Nike tour, May 2-23: Campaign for Labor Rights and Press for Change are organizing a 12-day speaking tour in Canada (Vancouver, Alberta and Ontario) with an Indonesian woman fired by a Nike subcontractor when she organized for her rights.

Cicih Sukaesih will meet with local activists in Vancouver and at several stops in Alberta and Ontario. The tour is being generously funded by the Canadian Auto Workers Social Justice Fund and by the Alberta Federation of Labor.

Planning is also underway to add tour stops in West Coast cities of the U.S.

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