• Consumers

Students at the University of MN-Morris join Team Sweat

• Consumers

Students at GA Southern University join the fight against Nike’s sweatshops

• Consumers

Students at Florida Gulf Coast University join the fight against Nike’s sweatshops

• Consumers

Students at the University of ND join the fight against Nike’s sweatshops

• Consumers

Young women from two Jesuit high schools join Team Sweat

• Consumers

More Consumers Join Team Sweat

Team Sweat:

More consumers have joined the fight against Nike’s sweatshops.

Peace, Jim Keady 

I heard about this through my friends. I think it is an excellent program, and I am going to do everything in my power to get awareness throughout my school!

- Jamie Green 

Hi Jim, I really enjoyed your presentation last night at Georgia Southern University. After attending I went home and did additionally research into the subject and in to other companies responsible for these horrible practices. You mentioned New Balance as a shoe choice, I found that they also are involved in this crisis:

http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/responsibleshopper/company.cfm?id=270

That website is a good resource for consumers who want to be responsible about where their dollars go, and after researching I know my shopping habits will change. I just wanted to drop you an email and tell you to keep up the good work and speaking for thousands who cannot speak up for themselves, you are truly a hero. I’m involved in many causes and this is one that I can add to my list. I became aware of this problem in the 90’s and saw Michael Moore’s movie “The Big One” which profiled Nike and challenged Phil Knight directly, and it’s easy to tell that Mr. Knight does not have a conscience and is in the business not to make money (anymore), he’s in it to make it as successful as possible, to make the company more money, so that his legacy as a legendary businessman is upheld. If that legacy is more important to him, than having a legacy of a caring, compassionate human being, which I think is the case with him, this may be an awfully long ride. I’m willing to throw my support in your corner for this effort, and I’m trying to spread the word. Thanks again and well wishes to our brothers and sisters in Indonesia and elsewhere who desperately need us. 

- Ryan Coskrey

(Note from Jim Keady: Just to clarify, I was not offering New Balance as a “sweatfree” choice.  New Balance uses sweatshops in China.  I was asked by someone in the audience what shoes I wear when I run and I said New Balance and I was clear that it was not because of their labor practices.  While I do have a pair that were made in the USA where there are better worker protections, the company (like Nike) still has a long way to go in treating their production workers fairly.)  

After seeing Jim Keady’s presentation at Georgia Southern University, I feel beyond moved to join Team Sweat. I am absolutely infuriated by Nike’s actions and their ultimate lack of heart. I find it appalling that people can sit back and watch while other human beings are exploited daily. I am saddened for the Indonesian workers who are paid next to nothing, sometimes beaten, and often humiliated by Nike. However, I know it is not enough to just feel sad…that is why I must join Team Sweat to fight for a change. This is the first time in my life that I have ever felt truly passionate about something. I KNOW that what is happening to these innocent workers is not right. So, thanks Jim for opening my eyes to the truth about Nike… here’s one more player for Team Sweat.

“It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act.”

- Kelcey Schmidt

Hi Jim,

I attended your talk this evening at Florida Gulf Coast University.  I was the lone gentleman in a tie.  I wanted to tell you that I truly enjoyed listening to your story and support your fight.  Shortly after graduating from Boston College in 1995, I did a year of volunteer work with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Northern California.  I lived in community with other volunteers and worked at a shelter for homeless families.  I spent a large part of that year learning about social injustices that exist in our country and worked to help marginalized populations.  In the years since, I haven’t been as active in social justice advocacy as I should.  I am currently the Associate Director for Financial Aid at Florida Gulf Coast University.  Your presentation tonight really inspired me to be more active in educating myself on matters such as Nike sweat shops and do what I can to promote change.  Like you had said at the end of your talk, I too believe that we as human beings have a responsibility to work for the common good.  You couldn’t have said it better.

Best wishes and continued success.

Thanks,

Brian Casey 

• Consumers

Students from GSU Join Team Sweat

Team Sweat:

Last week I had the pleasure of speaking at Georgia Southern University.  Here are some students from GSU that have joined Team Sweat in the fight against Nike’s sweatshops.

Peace, Jim Keady 

After listening to Jim Keady at Georgia Southern University, I was overly inspired to join the fight in stopping these injustices in which I saw through the documentation. Human exploitation has reached a new high point it seems and it would be considered inhumane to not act on my concerns. Consumers and workers have been unaware and uneducated long enough about these issues. It’s time to help the fight in stopping the corporate illusions in which Nike sets on its consumers.

- Whitney O’Connor

I find it so interesting that actual human beings can exploit other human beings in our society today and still be able to sleep at night. It is truly sickening the injustices these corporations get away with every single day. I was so proud that Georgia Southern was open enough to allow Jim Keady to come and do his heartfelt presentation.  That is exactly what makes change happen, when someone is brave enough to set a spark in the minds of people and the people care. I believe deep down every person has at least a tiny freckle of good inside of them, and when I see people genuinely trying to make a difference, it gives me hope. 

The most educational, and shocking, parts of Keady’s lecture were about the cruel violations that were being carried out on the Indonesian Nike workers. I was appalled by the actual wages distributed to them, the raping of the environment, and insane humiliation of the menstrual leave. And when the workers try to do something about their beyond terrible work conditions by starting and joining unions, they are singled out and beaten within an inch of their lives! When presented with these facts, I went straight home and did some of my own research and I found that all of these statements were verified! This infuriated me.  Never in my life have I been so moved to try to do something about it. I thought: “How can these things be happening in our life time?” No wonder other countries completely despise us, we are doing this kind of things to them! So, I went to his website and now there is one more player for Team Sweat.  I feel that one person at a time can make a difference. 

- Ashley Elizabeth Joyner

• FAQ

Why are you picking on Nike?

Sometimes people ask the question, “Why are you picking on Nike?”  

We are not picking on Nike.

We are simply telling the world the truth about Nike’s sweatshops and their exploitative labor practices. 

We are a non-profit organization with a budget of less than $100K a year.  How could we possibly “pick on” an $18.6 billion dollar corporation that has manufacturing operations in 52 countries, sells products in more than 160 countries, and spends $1.6 billion dollars on marketing and advertising?  Talk about David vs. Goliath.

We focus on Nike for two main reasons.  The first is grounded in the history of how I got involved in this issue more than a decade ago.  When I was coaching at St. John’s University back in 1998, I stumbled upon the Nike sweatshop issue while writing a paper for a grad school class.  When I learned about how Nike was exploiting the poor in developing countries, my assignment turned into activism.  My activism eventually led to an ultimatum from my head coach, “you will wear Nike, and drop this issue, or resign.”  (You can learn more about this by watching BEHIND THE SWOOSH and NIKE SWEATS). 

I wasn’t told I had to wear Adidas, I wasn’t told I had to wear Reebok, I was told I had to wear Nike and that I needed to stop talking about their sweatshop abuses.  I guess, in a way, the Nike issue chose me.  And it turns out that my original focus on Nike is actually pretty strategic with regard to the broader campaign to end sweatshop abuses in the global manufacturing industry- and this is the second reason to focus on Nike. 

Here are the facts:  

• Nike is the leader in the sportswear industry.  They control roughly 45% of the global market.

• Nike led the push into low wage countries with poor human rights records.  They exploited (and continue to exploit) these countries for their “cheap labor.”   

• Labor abuses in Nike factories have been extensively and reliably documented over a 15-year period.  There is no other company for which there is this much objective research. 

• As the company with the largest profit margins in the industry ($1.5 billion in profits in 2008), Nike can more easily afford to ensure living wages and fair working conditions in their factories. 

We are certain that continued pressure by consumers, workers and investors will get Nike to stop their sweatshop abuses. Once we change Nike, we will have an organizing model we can replicate.  We can use this model to put pressure on other companies and we can create genuine grassroots change in the global apparel and footwear industry.