Labor unions upset with Nikes decision to shutter two Canadian factories that produce product for its Bauer Nike Hockey division are taking their dispute to the United Nations, calling on U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to confront Nike with its responsibilities under the U.N. Global Compact that Nike signed in 2000.
Bauer Nike Hockey announced in October that it would be cutting approximately 320 jobs at the two factories and moving about 90% of that production to other contract manufacturers in Canada.
The presidents of the four unions claim that “Nike systematically violates Compact's Principle Three, that businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining”, but also admit that the Compact currently has no mechanism to force compliance with Compact principles.
>>> The unions appear want to use a U.N. vehicle that is intended to protect workers in poverty-stricken third world countries as a tool for their own self-interest. We wonder if Reebok is watching this issue as they close the THC deal
