December 22nd, 2010
Team Sweat:
With $2000 in pledges already in, we have $6000 more to go to fully fund my upcoming research and organizing trip to Indonesia.
Will you make TEAM SWEAT part of your holiday giving and contribute $25, $50, $100, $250, $500 towards this effort?
To contribute right now, just click DONATE NOW!
Or if you would like to send a check, please make it payable to Educating for Justice and send it to:
Educating for Justice
1201 Third Avenue, Suite A
Spring Lake, NJ 07762
My last visit to Indonesia to expose conditions for Nike’s workers producing gear for the 2010 World Cup gained international media attention. Here is a clip from the article that the LA Times ran on June 28, 2010.
“Like any die-hard sports fan, Jim Keady eagerly anticipated soccer’s World Cup. But he isn’t at home watching the matches. Instead, the 38-year-old New Jersey native has been in Indonesia, talking to the workers who make the Nike jerseys worn by nine of the teams in the tournament. For years, the former professional goalie has waged a one-man campaign to highlight Nike’s labor practices, complaining that the company pays Indonesian workers low wages to stitch together the uniforms that have made the company the world’s most successful sports garment manufacturer.”
I am confident my upcoming trip will be just as fruitful. But it can only happen with the support of people like you.
Your contribution will help me to:
• Present “Behind the Swoosh: Sweatshops and Social Justice” at five Indonesian universities;
• Present a panel discussion on Nike’s sweatshops and labor rights for the Jakarta Foreign Correspondents Club, a non-profit organization for hundreds of foreign journalists based in Indonesia;
• Organize education sessions with workers at five Nike footwear and apparel factories;
• Conduct in-depth organizing meetings with members of the independent trade union at a major Nike footwear factory. I am hoping through these face-to-face discussions that we can finally reach a point where these workers will be ready to make their demands to Nike;
• Conduct a round of field research on wages, spending power, etc. to update my Nike case study;
• Develop a follow up education/organizing plan with my Indonesian team based on the outcomes of the planned meetings with workers.
Again, all this only happens with the financial support of people like you.
Please be sure to follow the latest with the campaign at www.teamsweat.org or www.facebook.com/teamsweat and if you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to email me at jim@educatingforjustice.org or call me at 732.988.7322.
Thanks in advance for your support and Happy Holidays!
Peace,
Jim Keady, Director
Educating for Justice
December 21st, 2010
After the presentation, I realized that I am one of those people who feeds into Nike’s (and other) public announcements. I have realized that they make these to brainwash us! They are aware of their wrong doings, and that’s the scary part. Nike, a multi-billion dollar corporation, is sweeping it’s issues under the rug and I believe now’s the time to reveal them.
- Audra Spero
I enjoy the products that Nike makes, but the wages that employees receive in foreign countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam are not acceptable. It isn’t fair and I want to make my voice heard.
- Zachary Jankowski
Today Mr. Keady came to talk at my school. His presentation opened my eyes to a lot of things. I didn’t know that this was happening so drastically because of such major businesses that produce such used materials. I was disgusted by the lies that Nike throws out and the fact that these companies have so much money and cant even give people the amount of money they need to survive. It is inhumane. This is why I decided to join, to see what else I could do.
- Patrick Travis
Mr. Keady presented at my school today. it really opened my eyes to what is really going on behind the closed doors that everyone forgets about. I am a humanist and i back your cause 110%.
- Amanda Figueroa
Jim Keady came to speak to our school and I really want to help.
- Amanda Leigh Gambacorto
As a consumer, a student-athlete and an average person who wants to make a difference, joining Team Sweat is one step in fighting injustice. We learn about it through church and school, but often think “I am only one person.” We need to realize that if just 100 people say that, they are not each just one person anymore, they are 100 people who together can make a difference. We have no choice in the apparel we wear every single day as D1 student-athletes. Instead of being “walking ads” for these corporation, we deserve to be able to speak out and use our influence/publicity for the common good.
- Amelia Karges
(I joined Team Sweat because) because I want to be able to wear Nike products and feel good about it.
- Ashley Gaillot
I’ve seen your short film three times now and I’ve seen you speak. I’ve related to the issues you’ve talked about and want to know more about how I can help.
- Mary Kate Newhouse
I heard Jim Keady speak tonight at St. Louis University and want to learn more about what he does.
- Erin Kofron
Jim Keady just spoke at my school, St Louis University, and really opened my eyes to the gross injustices that, despite what the PR campaigns for different manufacturing companies are saying, still exist and affect people around the world.
- David Gaillardetz
A friend showed me the video about the working conditions in Indonesia and I found it to be a cause worth fighting for. I would like to start a campaign on my campus at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon and raise awareness.
- Lexi Parsagian
All humans have a right to be treated equally. American companies think they can walk over other countries to make a larger profit. It is time to take a stand.
- Adam Hucek
I want to join because I heard Jim Keady speak and It really got me excited and interested. I believe that what Nike does to these people is inhuman and disgusting and I want to do something about it.
- Charlie Veys
Please change my “affiliation” to X-Consumer! I can’t believe how ignorant I’ve been … the more I’m researching this the more disgusted I get. I would LOVE to see Phil Knight on CBS’s reality show “Undercover boss!” Have CBS get his ass to Indonesia! Your parents must be very proud of your efforts. I would like to learn more and better understand the progress you’ve made. How can people like me help? A new fan of Team Sweat!
- Lauren St. Amand
Hello my name is German Arredondo. I just finished seeing your video and I was very moved by it. Recently I have noticed things around me and also that America is a very corrupt and greedy country. I have seen many things happening here in my own city as well. I’ve heard of the living conditions and about the extremely low pay that Nike workers receive. At first i didn’t think about it that much until I saw your video. This has opened my eyes. So please I don’t have much money but I’m more then glad to help you in your fight because I know that Nike is one of many corrupt companies in America. I do believe that the hard workers of Nike and other companies should get what they deserve and more. By the way I’m 16 if that makes you feel better because younger people like me should be aware of what is happening. Well thank you for reading this and I hope you can reply soon and I wish you for the best of your fight with Nike and other companies.
- German Arredondo
(I joined Team Sweat) because it is disgusting and degrading what we, as a human race, are allowing to happen in our world.
- Rachel Hiltz
December 20th, 2010
My name is Todd Carr, I am a Freshman at Franklin Pierce University. I play for the baseball team here, and tonight I listened to presentation about the sweat shops around the world. I feel that the Nike corporation must make a change in the way they run their business. I feel it is a civil duty as a U.S. citizen to speak up about this problem and try and make a change.
- Todd Carr
Just enjoyed Jim’s presentation at Georgetown. Keep up the good work!
- Cory Bronenkamp
I saw Jim Keady speak at Georgetown University and it changed my life. I went on camera and talked about how terrible Nike is.
- Dane Zito
(I joined Team Sweat because I was ) inspired by Jim Keady to make a difference.
- John Patrick Serzan
I am writing a paper about a Nike commercial, “Destiny - Force Fate” in my English class. We are to research the facts behind the origins, history, etc. about Nike and critically analyze this ad and how Nike appeals to consumers. I had found some articles about Nike and Sweatshops. I then thought that I could analyze this paper on Human Rights and Dignity. Then as I was searching for recent articles on Nike & Sweatshops, I found Jim Keady. Unfortunately, I was unaware of his name and his actions. I am a student at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I want to become a medical doctor and work with Medcins sans frontiers (MSF, Doctors without borders). I believe Human Health must be protected and can be protected. I am joining Team Sweat because Team Sweat can not only improve wages, but the health of so many people. It is still only a small movement in this large society, but it is a step in eradicating poverty. I will constantly be aware of this team, and spread the words to my community at UofT. Thanks for taking action, and letting us know the truth.
- Justina Lee
I want to see just wages given to the workers. I love Nike’s products, but we must who and under what conditions are these products being made.
- Anna Wheeler
(I joined Team Sweat) because I want to act.
- Jamie R. Sturdevant
(I joined Team Sweat) to help stop Nike sweatshops.
- Alyssa
I watched Jim Keady’s video of his speech at Suffolk University and his data/ research has convinced me that a lot needs to be done to change Nike’s ways. He has encouraged me to add myself to the numerous people supporting the raise of wages for factory workers overseas.
- Gabrielle Womack
I saw one video posted by one of my friends and I couldn’t believe the tremendous abuse against those human beings and those poor conditions that they deal with it day by day while day by day other people are getting rich with thousands, millions or billions of dollars without caring about the others.
- Talysha Arteaga
I hate sweatshops and they need to be stopped. Team Sweat is doing great things to get the word out about Nike and their bad ethics/business.
- Fatima Czachorowski
I attended an assembly at my high school, Middletown High School North, this morning where Mr. Keady spoke. Prior to the assembly, I was fortunate enough to have seen the Nike video in my english class. The fight for justice and rights, which should be automatically granted to everyone, can be won and I want to join this fight. Ignorance, stubbornness, and lies will not be accepted in place of human rights and justice, two very simple and required aspects of life. GO TEAM SWEAT!
- Liz Huang
December 20th, 2010
(I joined Team Sweat because of) the message given at St. Norbert College by Jim Keady.
- Kevin Hansen
I am quite young but have never liked Nike. Up until last year i never knew about their sweatshops. I found it disgusting that they force people to work for very low money. I want to help them but I am too young so I thought I could join and stay up to date. Thank You.
- Darcy Stein
People need to come together to help fight the issue of sweatshops.
- Missy Krouth
Jim came to my school, UW-Green Bay, and I was inspired about what he talked about, and I would like to be more informed about things, and hopefully participate in awareness events.
- Megan Geil
I listened to your talk at UW-Green Bay tonight and its just so hard to believe that these people at Nike are so selfish and unwilling to help other people over something as stupid as money. Ive personally been to India once and saw how some of them live. I believe fully in what you are doing and would love to be a part of it!
- Jessie
I joined because I believe everyone should have the right to earn a living wage and live without fear. As citizens of the world we need to take care of each other. So let’s start now.
- Ann M.
These are the types of issues I am studying right now in college. I hear examples of social injustice, stories, and other peoples’ points of view. Rarely do I receive a detailed opportunity of how to affect change. Mr. Keady’s video was pretty much the most detailed, vivid, example of how others live. It is visual evidence…it’s not just an idea in my head that someone mentions through words in a class I’m taking. It’s not rocket science….it’s commonsense. People deserve their rights as a human…it’s mentioned in the United Nations charter, in the preamble. I know what’s important: humanity not stupid pair of shoes that will probably look like crap by the end of a month.
- Stephanie Suchecki
My life goal is to help make a difference in this world. I’m passionate about equality of others no matter the circumstance.
- Brittany Polze
(I joined Team Sweat) because I believe very strongly in the cause and to receive updates on Jim’s work.
- Sara Ewald
I saw Jim Keady’s presentation last night. It really me think about those problems and I want to see change. And I also am responsible for theose workers because they deserve same treatment I do.
- Jane Yang
I just attended Jim’s presentation at UW Stevens Point and I was very moved. I hate that the workers are proud to have such a terrible job just because they make a little bit of money that doesn’t even allow them to cover their basic needs. They deserve more and I want to help them.
- Nikki Sterling
I want Nike to start taking responsibility by paying their workers a living wage. The quality of their product sets a high standard and already speaks for itself, however they fall short in the human justice category. This is the perfect opportunity for Nike to set the example for other corporations. Please do the right thing Nike.
- Caitlyn Schoenfeld
(I joined Team Sweat) to help in the fight against Nike’s (and others) social injustices.
- Heather Kozlowski
I used to think that Nike’s great products were a great fit for my lifestyle. Now, I know that as of today it’s damaging others’ lives to buy Nike products. Jim came to my town yesterday to give the TeamSweat presentation. He opened our eyes to the reality that Nike is trying to ignore. I join him in efforts to stop this abuse of humans in Indonesia and around the world. I’m taking action by telling friends, emailing Nike with my complaint, and becoming more conscious of my buying habits. For the good of all, I’m taking a stance against this brutality.
- Thew Case
So that I can give you a tiny portion of my time to show that you have supporters. Capitalism is a pyramid and the American consumer is at the top. My conscience prohibits me from knowingly participating in an action that yields a high degree of despair. I’ve been told that living at the top of the pyramid and perpetuating despair are co-morbid. But I often wonder if it’s an obligated relationship.
- Glenn Wills
Workers everywhere should be paid a livable wage.
- Casey Robb
I would like to join Team Sweat because I am very passionate about this topic. I believe that we can make a huge different in the world by stopping the Nike Sweat Shops. I know it will be tons of work but I am willing to go the extra mile to stop this cruelty.
- Tommy Martin
December 20th, 2010
I’m joining Team Sweat because today at CBA, Mr. Keady showed me some very interesting facts today that really opened my eyes, and have forced me to think about what products I buy, and how they were made.
- Sean Groody
On a trip to Indonesia last year I was moved by the level of poverty and shocked at the lack of access to education for children. I understand that kids don’t often get to continue schooling after about age 11, so the poverty perpetuates itself. Thoughts about this have been in the back of my mind for some time. This morning I heard part of a Keady lecture on a podcast called Phedippidations, which referred me to this website. I can see a clear link between ensuring a living wage for workers and getting kids properly educated. This can break the poverty cycle. How can I help?
- Darren O’Malley
I just saw (Behind the Swoosh: Sweatshops and Social Justice) at my college. I am going to write to Nike and ask them to treat there employees with more respect.
- Hillary Tarr
(I joined Team Sweat because) I attended the presentation (Behind the Swoosh: Sweatshops and Social Justice)vat my school.
- Ashley Carrier
I saw a presentation (Behind the Swoosh: Sweatshops and Social Justice) at Rivier College and was very interested in the topic. I want to learn more about it and find out what I can do as a student in New Hampshire to make a difference.
- Chloe Landon
I attended Jim Keady’s presentation at school [Rivier College, Nashua, NH] tonight and was astoundingly impressed and inspired by the sacrifices he has made and feats that he has tackled. I was equally impressed by what he had to say. I would consider it a privilege to help take actions to protect human dignity and rights.
- Brittany Maynard
Jim spoke at my college (Rivier) last night and what he said really made me start to think! I really liked the presentation and I want to help the cause.
- Nicole Hauswirth
I am joining Team Sweat because Jim Keady was at my College last night and his presentation really touched me. It made me feel bad for wearing my Nike’s after seeing how they are made.
- Julie Spirito
Go get them Jim!
- Louie Schneider
(I am joining Team Sweat because I) went to Behind the Swoosh at Rivier College.
- Sarah Gagnon
I recently heard about Team Sweat and feel really convicted about the things that I buy. This has been slowly making its way to the top of my priorities for about a year now and I simply cannot ignore it any longer. However, I also know that you cannot just merely deny one thing without having something to replace it with, hopefully something better. How do I determine what companies DO provide appropriate wages and benefits so that I may begin purchasing from them. As an athlete, performance ability is obviously very important, but justice is as well. So, I need to make these things work together. Any helpful advice or points in the right direction will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for caring about our global community. Love wins.
- Amanda Holmes
After hearing Jim Keady’s speech at my school today, I felt compelled to do something to help the people who work in sweatshops for next-to-nothing wages, and I really want ti be a part of the effort.
- Christian Roodal
I learned about these injustices in my Ethics II class at school and was very interested in helping the cause.
- Charisma
I believe that everyone should receive adequate living wages.
- Allejandra Villagomez
Hi my name is Ray, I am a high school student in 10th grade at state college area high school in Pennsylvania. I saw your video behind the swoosh. When i saw that I felt horrible for the people and right away I wanted to put a stop to what Nike was doing. I think what you are doing is great and I really wanna be apart of that.
- Ray Ciervo
Dear Jim Keady, you came to Middletown High School North Yesterday to talk about your cause. Myself and many others want to help with the cause. I was in the mall yesterday, and I just saw Nike everywhere! I wanted to rip everything right off the shelves, and then an idea came to me: What if we did just that?
During your presentation, it became obvious that Nike could care less about the countless human beings beings with their own lives and their own families exploited and degraded because of Nike’s own greed. So, I came to the conclusion that some focus could be aimed at the stores that sell Nike. I know that many consumers aware of this issue will stop buying Nike, but if you raise the awareness of the stores to the issue of how Nike treats its workers and convince them to stop selling Nike, then that would definitely put an incredible amount of pressure on Nike. I propose to write letters to and visit corporate of companies like JC Pennys, Macys, ect. (Individual Shoe Stores like Feet First will probably be a lot harder to convince, but Nike products only makes up a very small portion of inventory in department stores). And letters to individual stores to give to corporate themselves may also be helpful. Also, a petition on your website for people who will not buy Nike products to sign is also a good idea to present to the stores. Thank you for your time.
- Amanda Leigh Gambacorto
December 8th, 2010
Posted December 2, 2010 by Kristen Miano
Advocate Jim Keady can sum up what’s wrong with the Nike Corporation in two words.
“Nike lies,” he said in his presentation his recent Great Issues Committee speech.
Keady has been campaigning against Nike and their use of sweatshops for the past fifteen years, presenting at numerous high schools and colleges around the country about the many human rights grievances Nike commits. He has created quite a stir for the popular sports apparel company, but Keady’s motivation is not the trouble he causes. His inspiration instead comes from a foundation of Catholic social teaching.
“I consider myself a liberation theologian,” said Keady, “And I believe if Jesus the revolutionary was around in 2010, he would be in place like Indonesia.”
Indonesia is one of several countries that hosts Nike sweatshops, a fact Keady learned while doing research for a paper as a graduate student at St. John’s University. At the time, Keady was also coaching the men’s soccer team at St. John’s. Nike sponsored the team, and as Keady learned more about the practices occurring in Nike factories, he came to believe that this partnership contradicted the school’s Catholic mission.
When he became vocal about his belief, the school gave him a choice.
“I was given an ultimatum. ‘Wear Nike and drop the issue…or resign’,” Keady said.
Rather than consent to a system that he was morally against, Keady resigned. Since then, he has made it his mission to raise awareness about Nike sweatshops and social justice.
“Ninety-five percent of the stuff we are wearing right now was made under sweatshop conditions,” said Keady.
In a large number of Nike factories, workers are not paid a living wage and usually have to work overtime just to make ends meet. Their living and working conditions are subpar and many workers are harassed in the workplace. Workers who try to unionize effectively are often verbally and physically intimidated and raises in salary are practically unheard of. Keady said that these conditions are not only morally wrong, but deny the human dignity of the factory employees.
“But we have seen some progress,” Keady said. “One area we have seen progress is with this issue of menstrual leave.”
By law, Indonesian women are allowed two days off when they are menstruating. In the sweatshops, however, women were required to prove this to their supervisors before they were given leave.
“But because of outrage from students like you,” said Keady, “In the ten factories I have been actively monitoring in Indonesia, this has stopped.”
Keady also stated that thanks to the activities of students, progress has been made in way of union organizing. By implementing unions, workers have a better chance of improving working conditions.
There are still areas that Keady would like to see improve. One of his current primary concerns is how Nike’s scrap rubber is disposed of. Most of the rubber is burned, creating numerous environmental and health hazards. Despite having visited and documented the dumping and burning sites, Keady has had a difficult time getting Nike to acknowledge this practice.
“This is public relations 101: tell people we are doing good things that are related to the issue we are being criticized on, and then override the credibility of whoever is criticizing us,” Keady said of Nike’s press releases regarding this issue.
Keady would also like Nike to raise the wages of the factory workers. For them to actually have a living wage, their current wage of about $1.25 a day would need to be tripled.
“Labor is not a commodity,” Keady said. “Labor is people. They are not just cogs in the machine of production. They are people with human dignity.”
For real improvements in policy, however, Keady stressed the importance of student activism, especially on campuses like Saint Louis University whose sports teams partner with Nike.
“Our student athletes are being prostituted by athletic directors and our coaches, turned into walking advertisements,” said Keady, “Does anyone know what [Rick Majerus’s] personal service agreement with Nike entails? Do we want Saint Louis University represented at a Nike events?”
Keady stated that any real change would not happen at the top with famous athletes and sports teams, but at the bottom with people and students who really care.
“Students are not just consumers, they’re citizens. So along with trying to support companies who are doing the right thing, you need to civically engage the companies who are not doing the right thing,” Keady said. “This isn’t just about assuaging your Catholic guilt by buying fair trade. You’ve got to do the activism as well.”
Keady closed his speech by encouraging students to support his campaign, or at least become activists for another issue they feel passionate about.
“The speech was very intriguing,” sophomore Anne Marie Batzel said. “As a business major, I’m interested in cooperate. I think we need to create change and do the right thing in situations like these.”
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