UCLA officials expressed appreciation to Adidas, the university's exclusive supplier of athletic apparel, after the company resolved an outstanding labor issue with a union representing workers at a shuttered apparel factory in Indonesia.
Chancellor Gene Block and Athletic Director Dan Guerrero have been monitoring the issue for nearly a year and proactively communicated with the company during that time in an effort to find a solution. Both said UCLA deeply values its relationship with Adidas and appreciates the company's responsiveness on this issue.
The company announced in late April that it would contribute additional aid to hundreds of workers who did not receive severance payments after the PT Kizone plant, which manufactured clothing for Adidas and other companies, abruptly closed in 2011 without fulfilling its legal obligations to the workers.
In October 2012, Chancellor Block sent a letter to top adidas officials expressing his concerns about the issue, citing the University of California Code of Conduct for Trademark Licensees, which seeks to ensure appropriate treatment of workers who manufacture UC logo goods.
At the same time, the matter was reviewed in detail by a UC systemwide advisory committee, which included a UCLA representative. In January 2013, the committee met with Adidas representatives to discuss the status of the outstanding issue with the workers.
In March, Guerrero and other UCLA representatives met on campus with company officials, including the president of Adidas America. Late last month, the company resolved the matter with the union that represents the former PT Kizone employees.
Chancellor Gene Block and Athletic Director Dan Guerrero have been monitoring the issue for nearly a year and proactively communicated with the company during that time in an effort to find a solution. Both said UCLA deeply values its relationship with Adidas and appreciates the company's responsiveness on this issue.
The company announced in late April that it would contribute additional aid to hundreds of workers who did not receive severance payments after the PT Kizone plant, which manufactured clothing for Adidas and other companies, abruptly closed in 2011 without fulfilling its legal obligations to the workers.
In October 2012, Chancellor Block sent a letter to top adidas officials expressing his concerns about the issue, citing the University of California Code of Conduct for Trademark Licensees, which seeks to ensure appropriate treatment of workers who manufacture UC logo goods.
At the same time, the matter was reviewed in detail by a UC systemwide advisory committee, which included a UCLA representative. In January 2013, the committee met with Adidas representatives to discuss the status of the outstanding issue with the workers.
In March, Guerrero and other UCLA representatives met on campus with company officials, including the president of Adidas America. Late last month, the company resolved the matter with the union that represents the former PT Kizone employees.