Outlook Indonesian trade unionist Ditta Sari recently refused to take a "human rights award" of $50,000 from the sportswear trans-national, tries, Keebok Reebok gives this award, annually, to a number of ished activists, because it Cheaper than payıng the Third World workers who slave in its sweatshop factories a living wage. It makes them look good.
Dita explains that she turned the award down -despite that fact that her organisation could put the "In money to good use, because, "it would have been hypocritical to accept the money.' "In 1995, I was arrested and tortured by the police, after leading a of 5,000 workers of Indoshoes Inti tions. Industry. The workers were bad demanding a wage increase (they were paid only 70 pence for an eight hour a day). They demanded maternity leave too. This company workers. operated in West Java, and produced shoes for Reebok and Adidas. I have seen for myself how the company the work treals the workers, and used the police to repress the strikers.' "Globalisation is producing neither universal welfare nor global peace. On the contrary, has hope conditions to match or go below the lowest common denominator. divided the world into two allagonistic parts.
"There are wealthy creditors and bankrupt debtors. companies." There are super-rich counand underdeveloped her political countries, super-wealthy years ago. speculators, and impovermalnourished children. Globalisation intensifies the growing gap between participated the rich and the poor.
"The low pay and exploitation of the Reebok workers of Indonesia, Mexico and ditions and Vietnam are the main rea- open sons why we will not accept this award.
Indonesia, there are five Reebok companies. 80% 1996 she of the workers ac women Since the workers can only 20,000 workers. get around $1.5 a day, they then have to live in sum areas, in unhealthy condiThis is particularly for the working-class children. At the same time, Reebok collects millions of dollars in profits, every year, sang the directly contributed by these "We believe that accepting handed the award is not a proper thing to do. This is part of rigged."
consequences of our help workers improve their lives. We can- of the not tolerate the way multina- National tional companies treat the Indonesian workers of the Third World countries. And we surely That not stand can Reebok GERMAN metal workers, from the giant IG-Metall union have put up two fingers to demands - but the strike is a challenge to all those multinational employers who aim to make a contribution to help changing the labour condi- Dita Sari tions in Reebok-producing released from prison in 1999 after the Dita Sari is 29 and began President Suharto, and after ten an international The Indonesian movement labour movement faced con- publicity from stant repression under the International. Suharto dictatorship. Dita In 2000 the FNPBI was in setting up recognised free trade unions, in leading Indonesian illegal strikes and rallies to Since her release she has try to improve workers' con- continued to organise and agitating for agitate for improved condidemocracy tions for Indonesia. Dita Sari was frequently arrested, and she was tortured and imprisoned. In was jailed after leading a demonstration of At her trial in 1997 Dita Sari handed flowers to the judge, prosecutor and hundreds of supporters packed into the public gallery. She then began reading a statement, and as she read people popular song of struggle, "Hymn of Blood.".
When the sentences were down, the crowd shouted: "The court is While Dita was in prison Indonesia: "We cannot tolercollapse of ate the way multinational companies treat the workers of Third World countries." and These are just some of the Amnesty reasons why the British campaign No Sweat has pledged raise money for by the FNPBI. Indonesian government. want blood money of the multinationals - but they do want money sent in solidarity by workers in other trade unionists across ------the world. Send donations "Indonesian Workers' Solidarity" c/o No Sweat, PO Box 36707, London SW9 8YA • Phone for more details, the speakers etc: 07904 431 959. trade Affiliations to No Sweat are the £50, individuals, £1. Send cheques to the PO Box, above, payable Sweat".
"compete" in the global marketplace at workers' expense by driving down pay and Solidarity & struggle