Il 14 dicembre a Roma, in occasione della Festa dell’Altraeconomia, il sindaco Veltroni si è impegnato pubblicamente ad aprire un tavolo di discussione con le associazioni per il consumo critico per definire i criteri per le sponsorizzazioni del comune di Roma raccogliendo l’invito di Alex Zanotelli, che gli ha consegnato personalmente una lettera, e del Coordinamento Cambia lo Sponsor (CoCs) che da tempo chiede al comune di non accettare sponsorizzazioni e doni da aziende oggetto di boicottaggio, per esempio la ventina di campetti di calcio offerti dalla Nike.
Ricorderete il caso dei 7 mila lavoratori della PT Doson, fornitore esclusivo di Nike, licenziati in tronco nell’ottobre 2002 in seguito alla decisione della multinazionale di cancellare definitivamente le commesse per assegnarle presumibilmente a paesi con un costo del lavoro ancor piu’ basso. Abbiamo scritto a Nike contestando la decisione e sollecitandola almeno a pagare le liquidazioni, una spesa che il titolare della PT Doson afferma di non poter affrontare. Nike ha risposto (testo in inglese piu’ sotto) di essere stata spinta a questo passo non da scelte di tipo sindacale e politico, ma di tipo organizzativo. Assicura di avere a cuore il destino delle 123 mila persone che lavorano per lei in Indonesia, suo secondo fornitore mondiale (dopo la Cina), con cui intrattiene relazioni commerciali da quasi 15 anni. Dice pero’ che il pagamento delle indennita’ di licenziamento spetta per legge al titolare della fabbrica e non a Nike che si impegnera’ comunque a fornire agli ex dipendenti: assistenza medica, corsi di riqualificazione professionale, opportunita’ di studio agli studenti lavoratori, priorita’ in eventuali programmi di assunzione presso altri fornitori Nike.
La Nikewatch Campaign, organizzazione australiana collegata alla Clean Clothes Campaign, ha inviato a Nike una replica e sollecita tutti a fare altrettanto. Piu’ sotto trovate il testo da inviare con le istruzioni. Questa e’ la sintesi: Nella vostra lettera sostenete che spetta al titolare della PT Doson versare le liquidazioni dovute. Nike fonda la sua politica produttiva sul subappalto che scarica i rischi connessi alle incertezze del mercato sui fornitori e in ultima analisi sui lavoratori. Sfruttando la sua posizione dominante, Nike ha messo i propri fornitori nella condizione di dover comprimere i costi di produzione per garantirle competitivita’ con il risultato che essi non sono in grado di far fronte agli obblighi di legge nell’ipotesi di tagli di commesse o forzata chiusura dell’attivita’. Il titolare della PT Doson ha comunicato che neppure dopo la vendita dei macchinari potra’ pagare le indennita’ di licenziamento. Il sistema produttivo che Nike ha scelto non puo’ costituire un pretesto per sottrarsi alle sue responsabilita’ morali, in special modo nei confronti di fabbriche di cui Nike e’ il committente esclusivo. In merito all’asserita disponibilita’ di Nike a fornire assistenza medica, microcredito per l’avvio di piccole attivita’ in proprio, opportunita’ di studio per gli studenti lavoratori, priorita’ di assunzione presso altri fornitori: 1) Nike non ha ancora detto per quanto tempo ancora l’ambulatorio di fabbrica restera’ aperto ne’ quanto denaro intende investire nel progetto; 2) Non e’ stata precisata l’entita’ del fondo che dovrebbe finanziare i crediti ne’ indicato il numero di lavoratori che vi potrebbero accedere; 3) Su 7 mila ex dipendenti solo 18 sono studenti lavoratori, quindi ben pochi (0,26 per cento) beneficeranno dell’offerta della Nike; 4) Non e’ stato indicato quanti lavoratori potranno essere riassunti presso altri fornitori, si tratta infatti di un’eventualita’ remota: quest’anno diversi fornitori Nike in Indonesia hanno effettuato numerosi licenziamenti. Una cosa e’ certa, tutte queste offerte costeranno a Nike molto meno del pagamento delle indennita’ obbligatorie, tanto e’ vero che i lavoratori hanno fatto sapere tramite i propri rappresentanti sindacali di continuare a preferire che sia corrisposto il dovuto. Per finire, non avete risposto alla domanda se le commesse perse dalla PT Doson saranno assegnate a nuovi fornitori in paesi dove costituire sindacati indipendenti e’ punito con la prigione o con i lavori forzati. E’ vero che Nike ha ancora una forte presenza in Indonesia, ma e’ altrettanto vero che con l’uscita di scena del dittatore Suharto nel 1996, la quota di scarpe sportive Nike prodotte in Indonesia e’ passata dal 38 al 30 per cento e, stando alle valutazioni del Wall Street Journal, potrebbe scendere fino al 26 per cento con la chiusura della PT Doson. Vi invitiamo nuovamente a rivedere la vostra decisione di cancellare le commesse alla PT Doson e comunque a garantire ai lavoratori il pagamento delle indennita’ di cui hanno in questo momento un assoluto bisogno avendo poche speranze di trovare un nuovo posto di lavoro in un paese che conta 40 milioni di disoccupati.
ECCO IL TESTO DA INVIARE PER EMAIL A:
continuous.improvement@nike.com
e per conoscenza a:
timc@sydney.caa.org.au,
indicando in calce nome, cognome, nazionalita’ ed eventuale organizzazione di appartenenza. Nelloggetto della mail scrivete: PT Doson (o quello che preferite)
Maria Eitel,
Vice-President for Corporate Responsibility
Nike Inc.
Dear Ms Eitel,
In response to consumers’ letters regarding the situation facing the workers at PT Doson, Indonesia, you make the point that legally it is the factory owner’s responsibility to pay workers’ severance payments. Nike has made the decision to contract out all your company’s production. This decision has shifted most of the risks and costs of participating in a volatile global economy onto factory owners, and hence onto workers themselves. As a dominant player in the global sportshoe market, Nike has been able to put pressure on factory owners to reduce costs in order to keep Nike’s business. This reduces the capacity of factory owners to ensure that they are able to meet their legal responsibilities to workers if Nike cuts its orders and the factory closes. My understanding is that the factory owner at PT Doson has told workers that even after selling all the factory equipment it is unlikely that there will be enough money to pay workers what they are owed. The decision to contract out production should not be a means of avoiding moral responsibility for ensuring that workers in Nike’s production system receive their legal entitlements, particularly in factories like PT Doson, where Nike is the only buyer. You also make the point that Nike is willing to make continuing medical services, microloans to start small businesses, continuing education opportunities for currently enrolled worker-students, and a hiring preference for skilled Doson workers at other contract factories should opportunities become available. With respect, this looks like tokenism. To take each of your offers in turn:
– I understand that Nike is not yet able to say how long the factory clinic will stay open, or how much Nike will spend on this offer.
– I understand that Nike is yet to determine how much will be available to be loaned to workers who are able to start small businesses, or how many
workers will be able to take up this offer.
– I understand that only 18 of the 7,000 workers at the factory are enrolled as students, so only a very small percentage (0.26%) of workers will benefit from the offer of continuing educational opportunities.
– I understand that Nike is not able to indicate at this stage how many workers will be able to find employment at other Nike contract manufacturers, but that several other Nike contract factories in Indonesia have already sacked large numbers of workers this year and so are unlikely to be able to take on new workers.
It seems likely that these offers will cost Nike much less than ensuring that workers receive the payments they are entitled to under Indonesian law. These offers have certainly not satisfied workers at the factory, who have indicated through their union representatives that they would rather receive the severance payments which they are supposed to receive under Indonesian law.
Your letter also avoided indicating whether the decision to cut orders will result in more of Nike’s sportshoe production moving to countries where workers can be imprisoned or sent to forced labour camps for attempting to assert their right to form independent, democratic unions. It is true that Nike retains a substantial presence in Indonesia. It is also true that since Suharto’s dictatorship fell in 1996, Nike’s sportshoe production in Indonesia has fallen from 38% of overall production to 30%. According to the Wall Street Journal it looks set to go as low as 26% when Nike ceases ordering from the PT Doson.
I would again urge you to reconsider the decision to leave PT Doson, or at the very least to ensure that workers receive their severance pay. Workers who become unemployed are in urgent need of some means of support while they seek other work. This is particularly so in countries like Indonesia, where they are competing for jobs with 40 million others.
Sincerely,
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Lettera inviata da Nike in risposta alle prime mail:
October 31, 2002
Dear Ms. Monti:
Thank you for your letter regarding PT Doson. Through careful and thoughtful deliberation, Nike has made the difficult decision to discontinue orders at this factory. This decision was taken to better balance Nike manufacturing across all footwear sourcing countries and across Nike’s sourcing base in Indonesia. Nike notified the factory in February to give the factory time to look for new buyers. Nike hopes this consolidation will allow us to better support the remaining ten Indonesian contract footwear factories, and the 65,000 workers in these factories. Nike values the importance of a worker’s right to freedom of association and recognizes the vital role of PUK SPTSK PT Doson (Indonesian Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Union). Nike Indonesia staff demonstrated this commitment by meeting with the leaders of PUK SPTSK on July 22nd and subsequent occasions and reiterated in a letter to the union on July 29th that that the decision to discontinue orders was a business decision and was not related to changes in government policy, union advocacy or labor issues. PUK SPTSK also represents workers at four other Nike contract factories in Indonesia. In fact, 13 trade unions represent workers at the 10 Nike contract footwear factories. Nike continues to value Indonesia as an important part of our global strategy. It continues to be our second largest footwear production country and we will continue to make efforts to support the success of our factory partners and promote stability for the Indonesian people employed in these factories. Our commitment is demonstrated by our ongoing work with 47 contract footwear, apparel and equipment factory partners in Indonesia, which employ over 123,000 people. As a company that has operated in Indonesia for nearly 15 years, we understand the value and importance of stable employment and a good job. Nike has remained committed to Indonesia during times of instability and uncertainty, and we continue to value the people and country of Indonesia as valuable long-term partners. While business realities and global conditions do impact our business practices, Nike is looking forward to a positive future in Indonesia.In addition to factory severance payments the factory is required to pay by law and government support, Nike will work with partners to provide programs designed to make this difficult transition easier. Displaced workers will have the opportunity to access one or more of the following Nike-supported programs: continuing medical services, job retraining programs, continuing education opportunities for currently enrolled worker-students, and a hiring preference for skilled Doson workers at other contract factories should opportunities become available. I hope this letter provides some additional background and context to what has been a challenging global decision for Nike. We look forward to a continuing relationship with the people and country of Indonesia. Please visit nikebiz.com for the latest information regarding PT Doson and Nike’s other corporate responsibility initiatives.
Sincerely,
Maria Eitel, Vice President and Senior Advisor Corporate Responsibility Nike, Inc.