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From the highs of workplace successes to the lows of life on the minimum wage, in this issue of NWN we invite you into the daily life of a factory worker.  Visit two exciting new blogs where young Indonesian footwear workers share their stories.  Celebrate a sweat-free victory for university apparel and a win for workers at the PT Mulia knitting factory.  Find out how keeping community radio’s place within Australian airspace can assist campaigns on labour rights.  Also take action to support workers making the soccer balls at the centre of the 2010 World Cup.

Sewani hopes to raise awareness of challenges faced by footwear and garment workers throughout the world. (Tim Herbert/Oxfam AUS)

After years sewing shoes for a famous sportswear brand, quietly spoken 24-year-old Indonesian factory worker Sewani* has decided to speak out.  For the next 12 weeks Sewani will give you an insight into her everyday life via the In My Shoes blog.  Sewani shares memories of migrating from Sumatra, travelling overseas as a domestic worker and starting her factory job in Jakarta.  She writes about workplace discrimination and her struggles to support her family.  Sewani hopes that by sharing her story she can help raise awareness on issues faced by thousands of other women working in factories throughout the world.  ‘Who knows,’ writes Sewani, ‘when others understand our conditions, they might speak out for us.  We also want to live in better circumstances.’  Alongside reading about Sewani’s everyday experiences, you can send her your own questions about life on the factory floor and take action to support the rights of young  women in the footwear and garment sector.

Take a walk in Sewani's shoes, visit In My Shoes blog

* Sewani has opted to use a pseudonym out of concern for the safety and privacy of her family, as well as her job security.

Ask adidas to keep its promises (Jessica Dunn/OxfamAUS)

Suwandi knows that 5 years is a long time to wait to find work. Suwandi and 32 other unions leaders at an adidas supplier factory were illegally sacked in 2005 after they held a strike for better wages. Since then he and other union leaders have been unable to get jobs at adidas suppliers.  Suwandi refuses to allow adidas to forget the promises that it made to support the union leaders to find new jobs.  Together with fellow union leaders Suparjo and Hamdani, Suwandi is going public on his struggle via the campaign blog adidas: Stop wearing us out.  This blog features campaign updates, direct appeals to adidas, as well as the personal stories of these three former workers. Check out the Stop wearing us out blog and send your messages of support to these young union leaders.

Read adidas: Stop Wearing Us Out blog

Take action: Remind adidas of its promises to respect workers' rights

Young girl stiches a soccer ball in India (ILRF)

As the World Cup kicks off this month in South Africa, the soccer ball industry has been handed a red card by the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF).  A new ILRF report reveals that workers stitching soccer balls in Pakistan, India, China and Thailand continue to experience alarming labour rights violations.  In India and Pakistan, child labour remains prevalent.  Problems of low wages and dangerous working environments across the industry also remain largely unaddressed.  While soccer balls captivate millions of viewers across the world over the next few weeks, the workers behind those balls are in need of international support.

Support soccer ball workers: Send a letter to FIFA now!

While Hilfiger show improvements, Polo Ralph Lauren remains out of fashion on labour rights. (Microrevolt)

Last month NWN readers took part in a campaign action to demand that Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren support freedom of association at their supplier PT Mulia factory.  Weeks later the campaign paid off as an agreement was reached giving workers the right to form the union of their choice.  Although it took two years for Tommy Hilfiger to respond to union problems at knitting factory, the company’s pressure on factory management proved crucial in bringing about the agreement.  Many labour problems at the factory  including a lack of rights for female workers and non-compliance with health laws  remain to be resolved.  But with their new union now formally acknowledged by management, many workers feel more optimistic that these issues can be overcome.

Read more on Mulia Workers' Success

United Students Against Sweatshops

The campaign for living wages has had a milestone victory as one of the largest vendors of university brand clothing in the United States, Knights Apparel and the factory producing their goods in the Dominican Republic, have made a commitment to implement a living wage and to respect the right of workers to organize. Workplace standards at the Knights’ supplier factory in the Dominican Republic will be monitored by the Workers’ Rights Consortium (WRC) as a pilot project for their designated suppliers program.

Find out about the sweat-free pilot
Read more on the living wage: visit Asian Floor Wage website 

Home-made community radio (3CR)

Since 1976 Melbourne based community radio 3CR has given a voice to cross-cultural organizations, disability groups, promoting local music and endorsing community activism.  With its Asia Pacific Currents, the Latin American solidarity program, and the other union focused programs like Tune in May Day, 3CR has also been a long-time supporter of labour rights.  Now it’s your chance to become a supporter of 3CR. Participate in the 3CR Radiothon and make sure that community radio keeps its place within Australia’s airspace.

Support community radio
Listen to community radio 3CR