Debate continues over signed Nike contract

The $7 million contract, which will pro-vide "swoosh" laden outfits for 14 of the Uni-versity of Arizona's athletic teams for five years, also requires Nike to shell out $1.4 million a year for the same length of time.

The UA publicly announced the deal about two weeks after the contract was signed Aug. 17. The softball, swimming and diving teams were excluded from the contract because they already have contracts with Reebok and Speedo.

Although UA President Peter Likins heralded the agreement for including a wide variety of sports, the UA chapter of human rights group Students Against Sweatshops criticized the university for signing on with a company accused of human rights violations.

Several newspapers reported last year that Nike factories in developing countries were employing workers as young as 13 and forcing them to work up to 17 hours a day for as little as 10 cents an hour while breathing dangerous chemical fumes.

Although Nike officials insist they have put a stop to inhumane work practices, labor advocates have continued to criticize the company for refusing to let independent monitors scrutinize overseas factories.

Under the UA contract, university admin-istrators can call for factory inspections only if they suspect human rights violations.

Students Against Sweatshops also opposes a clause in the agreement that states the UA and the athletic apparel company have to agree on a monitor. It does not specify that the monitor be independent from Nike.

In October, Likins traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in a forum on combating sweatshop labor. He was one of several panelists in the forum entitled "No Sweat University: Labor Standards and Codes of Conduct."

In mid-November, a two-day forum was held in Bangkok, Thailand, in which Nike officials revealed they had replaced petroleum-based solvents with safer, water-based chemicals.

Nike's own Code of Conduct was also modified last month to include an independent monitoring clause to comply with President Clinton's two-year-old Apparel Industry Partnership, comprised of apparel companies and advocacy groups who have agreed to create a non-profit association to oversee monitoring company labor practices.

Students Against Sweatshops President Arne Ekstrom said there has been improvement in the UA's attitude toward protecting overseas workers.

"That's a huge accomplishment to see administration is taking human rights seriously," Ekstrom said.

Still, he thinks Likins should hold Nike to even tougher standards.

"Action speak louder than words, Ekstrom said. "What he's given us is empty words."

Irene Hsiao can be reached via e-mail at Irene.Hsiao@wildcat.arizona.edu.