Breanna Fehr, April 1, 2008. 8:40 p.m. Labor Problems
At least 15,000 workers that make shoes for Nike have gone on Strike. The strike at the Taiwanese-owned factory is said to be the biggest strike in memory. The workers working at a Vietnam Factory say that they want better pay that can compare to surging prices in the country. The workers are demanding a fifteen percent increase in their pay, or 12.4 dollars a month.
Management has only offered have of what the workers are requesting. Strikes in Vietnam are becoming more frequent as consumer prices have risen. In the first quarter of 2008 consumer prices have risen more that 16 percent. This increase includes essentials such as rice, a staple food in Vietnam.
A Nike spokesman said that they recognize the impact that inflation has had on the people of Vietnam and they hope that the situation can be resolved quickly. The company says that they are already paying their workers more than the government-set minimum wage.
I think that it is important for the workers to express their concerns over the inflation versus their pay. I hope that 15,000 people on strike is enough to get someone’s attention. This is where the problem of minimum wage comes in. The company doesn’t look that bad because they can say that they are already paying the workers more than the minimum wage. The minimum wage however is not enough to survive off of. I think that the minimum wage should be looked at and be compared to the rising consumer prices in the country. The company is only going to negotiate so much, they don’t have to pay more than the minimum wage so I don’t see them agreeing to much more than they have already offered.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/338706/1/.html
6 comments:
I agree with you 100 percent and this article is not just important for the individuals involved but it helps give other underpaid workers hope
Nike is a company I have boycotted for years for just this reason. It isn't just a question of paying people more but a moral question of paying people a wage they deserve and a wage they can live off of.
Nike is one of the largest, if not the largest, shoe company in the world. And I can not help but think they are being held a little higher than other companies for this reason. But at the same time the minimum wage is not enough for families to survive on and they should be getting paid more. Nike has said to have raised their pay half of what they are asking, and the strikers should have considered the fact that they would have to negotiate and ask for more than they did. I do feel bad for these people and hope they get more money. Companies look at inflation as a way to increase profits, but they often don't see the increase in expenses on the global level.
I agree, it's really sad that a company as big and wealthy as Nike aren't willing to pay their employees better wages. I hope the strike can get their attention.
I agree with all of these comments. It is a shame that Nike are paying these workers a minimal pay. These workers are the reason that NIke is as big as they are. If people think about how and who made them, there equality process will be alot different. I hope they are called out in the problem and get what they deserve.
Looks like there a are a lot of comments on this one already but I found it interesting. You have to hand it to those Vietnamese, they aren't afraid to buck up when they feel the need to. Nike as a company turned me off years ago when I found out about all the sweatshop abuse. This is just another exmaple of how the company never really cleaned up its mess. Sure, they pay more than the minimum wage in vietnam ranges from US $35-$45 a month. That isn't even half the cost of one pair of the "Nike Shox NZ iD" Kids Shoe! Dissapointing.
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