After a "lengthy, profitable marriage to Asia, the
athletic shoe industry is considering moving some
manufacturing out of the region's controversial factories,"
according to Manning & Duin of the Portland OREGONIAN.
Nike's second-largest Asian footwear subcontractor "has
established a manufacturing beachhead" in southern Mexico,
and officials at Adidas AG "confirm they are studying
opportunities in Poland, Croatia and Lithuania." Many in
the industry are "convinced" that moving to smaller
factories "could save millions of dollars, improve customer
service and possibly end the public relations beating the
industry has suffered about pay and working conditions in
Asian factories." Manning & Duin: "Not surprisingly, there
are differences within the [Nike's] headquarters about the
wisdom and necessity of change. The Taiwanese and Korean
subcontractors who control manufacturing offer expertise,
cheap labor and an infrastructure that neither Europe or
Latin America is prepared to match. ... Executives are
reluctant to abandon a way of business that has been so
dependable and profitable" (Portland OREGONIAN, 1/26).
WILDCAT OPPOSITION: "Hundreds" of students at the Univ.
of AZ (UA) have signed a petition "protesting the
university's impending contract with Nike because of alleged
human rights abuses in the company's factories overseas,"
according to Pila Martinez of the AZ DAILY STAR. The deal
will provide shoes, clothing uniforms and some equipment for
"an undeterminable amount of years" (AZ DAILY STAR, 1/26).
...Over the weekend, Garry Trudeau's "Doonesbury" again took
a shot at Nike over alleged working conditions at its Asian
factories. One character noted that Michael Jordan is
"going on a tour of Nike factories" this summer. The
response: "That doesn't give management at a certain plant
outside Saigon much time to get its act together." The
final frame shifts to the Nike factory, and the "management"
discussing the plan, which is "We fire everyone and find
happier workers" (THE DAILY)....Packers DE Reggie White, on
his criticism of Nike: "I've told them I've always had a
problem with the situation with their jobs -- and even with
the sweatshops. And there are plenty of companies in
America, not only Nike, but Reebok and Logo -- and you've
got kids killing each other over these shoes." White, asked
if he feels like a hypocrite wearing the Nike: "To be honest
with you ... sometimes I do" ("NFL Countdown," ESPN, 1/25).
